Bedbug Registry (Portland, Bangor, Caribou: apartment, renting, hotels)

[OutDoorNut]

Not many reported locations in Maine, yet (but I can tell you that so far only the tiniest fraction of actual infections for the New York City area on in this database http://bedbugregistry.com/metro/nyc, so likely it's also more widespread in Maine than is reported in this database): http://bedbugregistry.com/location/me/ (broken link)

But between the tourists and migrant workers, I would expect you'll be seeing more of these things.

And they are a major problem and expense to get rid of (it's common here in NYC for people to just throw out their possessions then to try to kill the bed bugs in them).

"The Bedbug Registry bedbugregistry.com is a free, public database of bedbug infestations. Use it to check for bedbug reports before booking a hotel room or renting an apartment."

http://bedbugregistry.com/

And for the record, here's the map for Boston: http://bedbugregistry.com/metro/bos

[Zarathu]

How do you figure out the idea to look for this stuff? So interesting!

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by Zarathu

How do you figure out the idea to look for this stuff? So interesting!

I've been hearing increasing reports about the growth of this problem in the New York City area over the last ten or so years, and the last year it's growth has become alarming.

It's the worst for the people in apartment buildings, because if one tenent brings them home, the whole apartment building is at risk.

Getting rid of them is more difficult than getting rid of other pests, because insecticide does't stick to bedbugs like it sticks to other bugs, so bed bugs don't pick up insecticide when they walk over it.

So you have to spray insecticide right on the bugs.

When you realize that bedbugs hide in all kinds of cracks in the floor, walls, furniture, inside cusions, in the seams of clothing, drapery, and even inside computers, getting bug spray directly on them is a practical impossibility.

So the choice is either have your possesssions shipped to a warehouse where they can be gassed (like the office building was gassed for the anthrax germs following 911) or to throw everything out.

Most people find that throwing most of their stuff out is cheaper, so that's what they do.

I stopped buying used books and used furniture (although it's possible to get them from new books and new furniture--more than one high-end clothing store, for example, had an infestation in NYC recently).

I have even stopped buying clothing that needs to be dry cleaned.

Bed bugs have even been found riding in NYC buses and subway cars.

They'll probably turn up in taxis, too, if they haven't already done so.

In fact, I even worry about buying groceries--but I gotta eat.

I sure hope I make it out of here before I get these things.

(Before I move to Maine I want a guarantee that the moving van will be free of bed bugs, even if that means the moving van be gassed and I have to pay for it, before I put my stuff on it!)

[lawmom]

So far no hotels show up in Portland, but 2 in Bangor (surprisingly not the Travelodge there, which won the dubious honor last year on Tripadvisor's site of one of the top 10 dirtiest hotels, I do believe!)

Edited to add: I did believe correctly:

Dirtiest Hotels - United States
(based on TripAdvisor traveler reviews)

1. Hotel Carter, New York City, New York
2. Continental Bayside Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida
3. New York Inn, New York City, New York
4. Eden Roc Motel, Wildwood, New Jersey
5. Days Inn Cleveland Airport, Brook Park, Ohio
6. Days Inn Airport / Stadium Tampa, Tampa, Florida
7. Travelodge Bangor, Bangor, Maine
8. Velda Rose Resort Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas
9. Ramada Plaza Hotel JFK International Airport, Jamaica, New York
10. Days Inn & Suites Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by lawmom

So far no hotels show up in Portland, but 2 in Bangor (surprisingly not the Travelodge there, which won the dubious honor last year on Tripadvisor's site of one of the top 10 dirtiest hotels, I do believe!)

Edited to add: I did believe correctly:

Dirtiest Hotels - United States
(based on TripAdvisor traveler reviews)

1. Hotel Carter, New York City, New York
2. Continental Bayside Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida
3. New York Inn, New York City, New York
4. Eden Roc Motel, Wildwood, New Jersey
5. Days Inn Cleveland Airport, Brook Park, Ohio
6. Days Inn Airport / Stadium Tampa, Tampa, Florida
7. Travelodge Bangor, Bangor, Maine
8. Velda Rose Resort Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas
9. Ramada Plaza Hotel JFK International Airport, Jamaica, New York
10. Days Inn & Suites Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

I'm starting to itch just thinking about this.

[lawmom]

I lead a very boring life -- I love to read the really bad reviews of nasty places!

[cebdark]

I don't know whether to go "Hmmm..." or just giggle at the link below.

Either way, bed bugs have been in Maine a while. Granted, they aren't close to what's going on in NY, but they've been watched and taken seriously here for at least the last 3 - 5 years that I've known of.

Certified Bedbug Dogs of New England Handler, Sarah Foster

[Bydand]

LOL, I've stayed at that Travelodge. While it is a real hole, it has nothing over the Caribou Inn and Convention Center which holds the title for worse/filthiest motel I have ever stayed in... anywhere. Maybe no bedbugs, but even bedbugs have standards I would guess. After working a job that I traveled all over the State of Maine for years and a stay in most towns and cities, that is a rather crappy title to own.

[Zarathu]

OK..... is there a serious life threatening danger from bed bugs? Rabies? syphillus? Hepititis C or F?

So get one of those handy dandy house gassers that they use for fleas and do the house. Also keeps the snakes and mice out too.

Z

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by Zarathu

OK..... is there a serious life threatening danger from bed bugs? Rabies? syphillus? Hepititis C or F?

So get one of those handy dandy house gassers that they use for fleas and do the house. Also keeps the snakes and mice out too.

Z

I not sure those gassers work on bed bugs.