It’s no secret that bed bug infestations are occurring at lightning fast speed throughout New York.  There are now cases reported in every single state and it’s not surprising that some government officials are trying to nip the bed bug problem in the proverbial bud before it gets out of hand.

There was a recent meeting of the Bradley County Commission in Tennessee where one particular Commissioner brought a proposal to the table to curtail their rising bed bug problem.  Commissioner Lisa Stanbery stated that she had been contacted by a local non-profit organization which had informed her about the growing problem with bed bugs in their area.  She said that three families had been affected by bed bug infestations from their rental properties. 

Commissioner Stanbery asked if the Commissioners could put a tracking system in place so that the citizens of their county could obtain information about a rental property’s experience with bed bugs.  She was hoping that the tracking system could help protect citizens who were moving into new apartments, so that they would not have to deal with the blood sucking parasites.  Sounds good; and familiar too!

Although not mentioned, her proposal is not unlike the current legislation that is awaiting the sign of approval, or veto, from New York’s Governor David Paterson.  Since Governor Paterson recently vetoed the Mattress Sanitation legislation, it will be interesting to see what his decision is regarding this very important legislation.

Here’s the funny part of the story…

One of the other Commissioners was not too keen on the idea of the county being involved with bed bugs.  According to the Chattanoogan.com article, Commissioner Howard Thompson said “I think we ought to let everybody take care of their own mess,” and “all that is is nastiness.”

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Marking the 6,735 Veto of 2010, with one swift spin of an ink pen, NY A 7691 hit the skids!

Jose Peralta (D-NY) has made a name for himself as a bed bug superhero crime fighter…or would been if the New York Governor would have signed his pending legislation into law.  On March 29, 2010, Peralta’s legislation could have amended the General Business Law to read:

“relates to articles of bedding; prohibits the transportation, storage or sale of used bedding with new bedding unless the used bedding has been sanitized using a specified method intended to kill bedbugs, molds, and other germs or contaminants; provides for annual inspection of places where articles of bedding are made.”

The legislation passed through the Senate on Jun 15, 2010 and was sent for approval to the Assembly.  The legislation passed the Assembly on June 15, 2010 as well.  Good news…but only briefly.

On July 19, 2010, Governor David Paterson received the pending legislation, while New Yorkers everywhere continued to scratch from their bed bug infestations.  The momentous day that everyone was waiting for arrived on July 30, 2010…a decision had been made.  Would New Yorkers new mattresses be saved from the blood sucking parasites or would they still be allowed to be infested?  Sorry New Yorkers, Governor Paterson decided to veto this important bill that would help end the spread of bed bugs to new mattresses!  It has been reported that the new bill would cost the state of New York an additional $600,000 and would require that eight employees be hired.  Game over.

There are two more bed bug related legislations pending on the Governors table.  One would require New York City schools to notify parents of bed bug infestations.  The other would require New York City landlords to inform potential tenants if they have had bed bug infestation problems within the past year. Both of these sound like smart ones too!

Time will tell if the powers that be in New York will find them worthy enough of implementation. Until then, if bed bugs are making you itch in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions, contact Stern Environmental Group for expert bed bug removal services!

Raccoons are adorable when you see them frolicking together out in the backyard or woods.  Their cute little striped face, big brown eyes, pointy whiskers, and shiny nose may make you think that they are as friendly as your neighbors golden retriever.  Get close to them or have them pay a visit to the interior of your home, and you will see that they are not quite as cuddly as you imagined.

People in Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York are encountering raccoons in increasing numbers this summertime season. Just this past week, two raccoons were seen trying to obtain entry into a third story apartment of one residence.  They clawed the screen, scratched the glass, and even tried to open the window to get inside.  The resident, who was on the inside bashing on the window, could not even scare the creatures away.  Earlier the same month, the same resident awoke to his kitchen being ransacked by a raccoon.  Another Park Slope resident reports that she had four raccoons running amuck in her dining room and kitchen.

Raccoons are extremely strong and resourceful critters to deal with.  Once they have entered your home and decided it is a good place to nest, they are difficult and dangerous to evict.  Even though they can weigh as much as 35 pounds, these animals can squeeze their large bodies into spaces as small as four inches.  Raccoons are a constant problem for homeowners because of the damage that they cause to structures, urine and feces that they leave behind, and electrical wires that they chew.  They can cause damage to gardens, lawns, crops and livestock as well.  Raccoons are known carriers of many diseases that are extremely dangerous to humans and domestic animals.  Contracting rabies from raccoons is always a concern; but you also need to be concerned about distemper, roundworms, fleas, mites, and ticks when raccoons are present.

Raccoons can be one of the most challenging wild animals to remove. If you have raccoons in your home, contact Stern Environmental Group.  We offer expert Raccoon Control and Removal Services to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut areas.

In continuation from Wednesday…

Dr. Robert M. Corrigan, a rodentologist, who is well versed in all aspects of rats, led the interesting rat study.  He pointed out that rat poison is currently only being used on the train tracks to kill the rodents.  Once a train travels through the tracks, the poison is scattered.  Additionally, the refuse room which houses the garbage before it is transported out of the subway; is not subject to rat traps or poison.  This room, filled with black bags of trash, is a buffet for rats every day of the week!  Dr. Corrigan suggested that the rooms be guarded so that the rats could not reach their feast.

According to the New York Times, Dr. Corrigan told health officials that rats in New York City were a problem not only in subways, but other public places as well, especially parks.  “Virtually all of New York,” he said, “is vulnerable to this uncanny mammal.”

Wild rats are creatures that should be feared and avoided.  Although they are unlikely to bite you unless they are cornered, rats have the potential of spreading dangerous diseases to humans.  In the Middle Ages, rats (actually the fleas that were on the rats) were the cause of the spread of Bubonic Plague (the Black Death).  That plague wiped out a third of the European population during that time period. Some rat lovers of today say that the rats that are scurrying about New York City could not/would not cause another plague in today’s world, but how can anyone be so sure.  America could barely handle the H1N1 health crisis this past year, I can’t imagine how taxing a plague would be to our health system!  Rats are also known carriers of Leptospirosis.  This dangerous disease can be transmitted to domestic animals and humans alike.

If you need help ridding your business of rats in New York City or New Jersey, contact a licensed pest control specialist who is trained in expert rat removal services.

The rat infestation problem in New York City is no secret among city residents.  They can be found roaming the streets during the night and foraging through bags and cans of trash in hunt for a tasty treat.  Some estimate New York City rats to outnumber human folks 20 to 1, while others discount those numbers as being false.  Whatever you believe, just take a walk through the streets of New York, and there’s no doubt that rats are alive and well in the city!

Rats continue to be photographed in many areas of the New York City subway system.  They forage and feast on the garbage that others leave behind.  They emerge from the cracks within the walls, popping their ugly heads through broken concrete and tiles.  Rats have been found on the subway tracks and scampering to and fro throughout the platform waiting areas. One brave rat was even photographed hanging from the handrail inside of a populated moving subway!  That’s certainly not the travel companion you would hope for while traveling on the tube under New York City!  Although a little leery of humans, they don’t typically run and hide when they encounter us.  Rats use to be a nighttime forager, but reports are that these obnoxious creatures have now taken to the New York City subways even during peak rush hour periods.

A two year study of the rats in the New York City subway system was completed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.  It was found that rats do not live in the subway tunnels as previously believed; instead they prefer to set up house within the walls.  It was also found that the rats are enjoying the food and drink debris that is left behind by subway riders.  The litter and crumbs are a constant invitation for rats to come to dinner.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.

The big news of the week in bed bug land is that New York City has officially declared war on the blood sucking parasites that are noshing away at residents, travelers, shoppers, and anyone else who happens to step foot in the wrong place at the wrong time in the city.

After months of anticipation, and endless hours of strategic planning, the new counterattack was revealed on the steps of City Hall last Wednesday.

Last year, the Bed Bug Advisory Board was formed by Mayor Bloomberg.  The Board’s purpose was to study the health concerns and make recommendations to the mayor and city council on the prevention and treatment of bed bug infestations in the city.  The Bed Bug Advisory Board was to deliver their report within nine months; and with eager anticipation, the 39 page report has finally arrived!

So here’s what New York City bed bugs have to look forward to in the near future….

• There will now be a team to coordinate bed bug control efforts in the city.

• A “Bed Bug Academy for building managers.

• An online portal of bed bug facts checked by the city.

• Guidelines/information for disposing of infested furniture and clothing, and educating the public about purchasing secondhand items.

• New York City Housing Court will give higher priority to cases that involve bed bugs.

The cost of implementing the program is said to be $500,000, which will be re-appropriated from the Department of Health’s budget.  According to the New York Times, Gil Bloom, one of the Board members, said “If fully implemented, the recommendations could reverse the current increase in bed bug activity and actually improve our situation.”  All of these bed bug programs are great, but the big question is…will they work?  Time will tell of course and everyone in the US is waiting to see the outcome of the New York bed bug problem!

If you are suffering from a bed bug infestation in New York City or New Jersey, don’t wait until these new programs are implemented before asking for help.  Call a bed bug expert for help today.

Continuing from Wednesday…

It should be noted that I was quite thorough in my inspection of my first hotel room.  I removed and inspected each of the dresser and nightstand drawers, inspected the curtains, floorboards, clock, telephone, picture frames, headboard and of course the bed and bedding.  The bed bug infestation that I found was localized at the foot of the bed, in the seam of the mattress, and yet the bed bug sniffing dog found several hot spots in the room that I completely missed.  It is estimated that humans are about 30% accurate on their visual inspections for bed bugs, and bed bug sniffing dogs are about 98% accurate.

Clearly, this particular hotel considers a bed bug infestation to be a serious matter when it is discovered at their establishment.  Once there was confirmation from pest control that there was indeed a bed bug infestation in my first room, they jumped into action to remedy the situation.  Mind you, I did bring management ACTUAL bed bugs, in various stages of their development; but I do appreciate their attention to detail in this matter regardless.

Their first step in treating their bed bug problem was to immediately move the guests that were staying in the hotel room on either side of the infested room.  Once those rooms were in quarantined off, pest control and the bed bug sniffing dog were called in.  My initial room was chemically treated as well as the adjoining rooms.  The real surprise came when I was informed that it was hotel policy to completely strip the room of its contents when there is a bed bug infestation.  Under the cover of night, every single removable item (including the carpet) in that room was wrapped in plastic and removed.  I was assured by the hotel staff that everything in the room would NOT be sent out for fumigation, but instead would be incinerated!  WOW!

If you have a bed bug infestation, contact Stern Environmental Group for the most up-to-date bed bug products and services, including the always reliable bed bug sniffing dog services.

Stay tuned for more vacation follies.  Blood sucking bed bugs are alive and feasting on folks in Philadelphia.  I was lucky; many of my friends were not!

In previous entries of my vacation follies, I’ve been sharing of my bed bug filled adventures in Philadelphia, PA.  I have purposely chosen to not reveal the 5 star hotel in question because I do believe that the actions that they took regarding the bed bug infestation that I encountered were exemplary!  If all hotels handled their bed bug infestations the same way, there would definitely be a decline in bed bug reports and lawsuits against hotels.

Continuing on with my adventure…

Upon leaving the hotel to head over to the convention center, I was assured by the hotels general manager that their pest control company was called and that they were on their way to investigate and treat my previous bed bug infested hotel room.  I reminded her that I wanted my new room sprayed for bed bugs just in case the buggers decided to make a run for it to my new local.

Several hours later I returned back to my lovely suite that overlooked the river, with fabulous views of the city, to find something interesting in my room.  Pest control was there, which made we quite happy.  In addition, he brought along a friend…a bed bug sniffing dog!  Knowing that bed bug sniffing dogs are one of the best tools that can be used when fighting bed bugs, I was quite pleased to see this amazing dog in action up close and personal!  The dog was able to inspect the entire suite in about five minutes.   I breathed a sigh of relief when they told me that the bed bug sniffing dog did not have a positive hit at any location in my new room.  I inquired about my previous room and found that the dog had indeed found several positive hits in that room.

Please check back on Friday for the part 2.

Groundhogs are known by several different names.  They are also called woodchucks or whistle pigs, and are considered endangered and are a protected species in Wisconsin.  Oddly enough, they seem to be multiplying in New York, New Jersey and just about every other area across the United States.

Groundhogs are one of the greatest challenges for homeowners this time of year, especially if you are trying to grow a vegetable garden.  Gardeners become quite annoyed because groundhogs can easily eat up to two pounds of vegetation each day.  They too enjoy the bountiful treats of nature as they feast on gardens and landscaping.  It only takes one night for one groundhog to mow down an average size backyard garden.  People  often try using electric fences, regular fences, bricks, hair, urine, and rotten egg juice to keep groundhog away; but these pesky creatures still seem to find their way into gardens.  Once a groundhog has moved on to your property, it is nearly impossible to get rid of them without the help from a pest control specialist.

Because of their constant burrowing and excavating skills, groundhogs have been known to cause considerable damage to foundations and they can even undermine the structure of swimming pools or other structures.  Although not always the case, groundhogs can be the carrier of the rabies virus as well as the hepatitis virus.

If you have groundhogs making a mess of your landscaping in New York or New Jersey, contact Stern Environmental Group today.  We provide humane expert groundhog removal service to our customers in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions.  Don’t let groundhogs damage your expensive landscaping.  Take advantage of our 24 hour emergency groundhog removal services today.

With all of the bed bug infestations blanketing newspapers and the internet this past month, it’s a pretty hot topic among folks.  I was just having a conversation with my neighbor about bed bugs and I told her that bed bugs could wreak havoc if they landed in the wrong hands and were purposely set loose in a public establishment.  She thought I was a bit off my rocker.  It’s bad enough that we all need to look for them in hotels and motels, and wonder if they are in the airline seat, rental car, train, bus, taxi, or movie theaters that we are sitting in.  We are not even safe from these blood suckers if we become ill and require a trip to the hospital or are visiting someone there, because bed bugs can be ready to pounce.

Then I read an article last night about the plastic baggie of live bed bugs there were found a few weeks ago at a Des Moines city building. The open baggie was found by custodians but not before the prickly pests had time to escape and run for cover in the Des Moines Armory which houses many public offices.  It is only now that they are finding out how bad the infestation is.

Officials believe that the bed bugs were left by someone who was seeking revenge against the city for some unknown reason.  Really, why else would a bag filled with live bed bugs be left in a building?

Forget chemical warfare, this is bed bug warfare!  The building has undergone fumigation services three times, but according to the bed bug sniffing dog and the employees itchy bites, the bed bugs refuse to die.  So far, the City of Des Moines has forked out $1,200 for fumigation costs.  Heat treatment for the building will cost the city an additional $5,000.  Without a doubt, employees have taken the blood suckers home with them as well.  Who assumes the cost for those bed bug infestations?  What a nightmare!

For protection, maybe I will just train my own dog to be a bed bug sniffing dog!