Monthly Archives: November 2010

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Commercial Services, Pest Control, Pest Eradication, Pest Management, Residential Services

NYC Bed Bugs Continue To Terrorize Students

The New York Department of Education has reported that there is has been quite a few NYC schools that have complained of bed bugs creeping through the halls and classrooms this school year.  So far, the New York Department of Education has placed 16 schools on their bed bug list.  The schools span five different boroughs and have had one or more confirmed cases of bed bugs so far this school year.

According to the Bed Bug Advisory Board, this news is not good because if the trend keeps going as it currently is heading, NYC school bed bug infestations are on track for having over 1,000 bed bug incidents this year.  That would be a new record for NYC bed bug infestations within the school system.

Schools are required to save any bugs that are found within a school and send them to the DOE for confirmation. Some NYC teachers are claiming that their schools are infested, but are not on the DOE’s list of problem schools, so the problem within the school system might be far greater than is being reported by officials.

On August 30, 2010, Governor Paterson, signed Bill #A05434 into law which “requires city school districts having a population of one million or more to notify parents and persons in parental relation of any bed bug infestations found in a school.”

The previous policy was to only notify the family of the affected child, with additional notification left to the discretion of the school.  This bill cannot be implemented soon enough within the NY school system as NYC bed bug infestations are raging in many areas.

When parents are given early warning of potentially transporting the blood suckers home, they can be proactive in looking for the pests on their child’s bookbag, lunchbox, clothing, coat, etc.  If they happen to be unfortunate enough to find bed bugs on their child or their belongings, then they can immediately call a NYC pest control expert to eradicate the blood suckers before the infestation goes un-noticed and gets out-of-control.

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NYC Rats Enjoy Munching Away At Subway System Part II Of II

Continuing from Wednesday…

Other large U.S. metropolitan cities like Washington, DC and Chicago have subway systems that are not overrun with sassy rats.  This is because there is a “no eating” ban on the trains or within the train stations.  If riders are found eating or drinking, they are quickly issued a fine.  The lack of eating within the stations/trains gives way to very clean train stations and trains.  Because there is no other food sources underground, other than those provided by humans, Chicago and Washington, DC do not have rat infestations within their subway systems.  Due to the constant gravy train being offered to NYC subway rats by riders, Senator Perkins is proposing a “No Eating on Subway Bill”.

Senator Perkins is also proposing that more trash receptacles be placed throughout the NYC subway system to eliminate the trash that is on the floor which would help keep platforms and tracks cleaner.  He would also like to see trash cans emptied more frequently so rats will not be able to feast on the contents.  Additionally, he is asking that refuse storage rooms be secured completely against rat entry.  If Perkins gets his way, NYC will see a new public education campaign set in place as well.  Subway riders just might see cool signs in the near future that read…“If you feed em…You breed em! or “starve a rat today…throw your trash away” plastered on walls throughout the subway system too.

In the end, it will take a combined effort of government officials forking over money to help battle the NYC rat infestation; citizens making a commitment to abide by any new rules and regulations by keeping all food sources out of the NYC subway system so rats won’t have anything to feast upon; and a good Integrated Pest Management Program implemented by a NYC pest control expert, to knock out the rats that are rampaging through the subway system.

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NYC Rats Enjoy Munching Away At Subway System Part I Of II

Rats running the streets of NYC not a new occurrence.  Take a walk on with wild side and glance down any NYC alley-way and you will see rats running along buildings, climbing in and out of garbage cans hunting for a good meal.  Rats living and thriving within the New York City subway system is also nothing new either.  Underground, the NYC rat infestation is out-of-control.  Rats are running amuck along train tracks enjoying the warm shelter, safe surroundings, and the absolute abundance of discarded food supplied by human riders.

Rats are more than just a nuisance pest.  These creatures can carry and transmit diseases that are dangerous to humans and pets.  Rats spread disease via their feces, urine, and saliva.  Rat populations can be controlled with Integrated Pest Management and proper treatment by a NYC pest control expert.

New York State Senator Bill Perkins (30th District) would like to see an end to the rats that are living in the NYC subway system.  He recently conducted a district-wide survey whereas he distributed 15,000 questionnaires to constituents asking about their rat sighting experiences in the NYC subway system.  An overwhelming 5,000 people responded, and staggering rat information has been gathered!

According to Senator Perkins survey, 57% of people who responded said that they see rats daily, 29% said that they see rats weekly, 12% said that they see rats monthly, and only 1% of riders said that they never see any rats on the subway system.  Of the people surveyed, 80% believe the subway rat problem is “severe” or at the point of a “state of emergency” level.  Almost 61% of folks think that the NYC subway rat infestation can be rat free at some point in time though.

Recognizing that NYC rats are not going to go away on their own, Senator Perkins has come up with recommendations and will be proposing legislation to help conquer the NYC rat infestation in the subway system.  There will soon be a hearing to discuss this new legislation and he will be asking the Metropolitan Transit Authority about their specific procedures in regards to eradicating the subway rats that are running wild within the subway system.  The hearing will be open to NYC pest control professionals and the public as well.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.

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Could Ohio’s New School Policy Inspire NYC Bed Bug Infested Schools?

Like New York City, the State of Ohio has been one of the hottest spots for bed bug outbreaks.  The bed bug situation is so bad in Ohio that months ago, their governor, Ted Strickland, asked the Environmental Protection Agency for a special exemption so that they could use three products that contained Propoxur.  Had the request been approved, the products would only be allowed to be dispensed by licensed pest control professionals.  But, in the end, the EPA denied Ohio’s request for the exemption and Ohio’s (and everyone else’s) bed bug battle continues forward.

NYC bed bug infestations have proven quite difficult to combat for schools and NYC pest control professionals time and time again.  One Ohio school district is taking a new approach to their recent run-in with their school bed bug infestation problem.   Acknowledging that bed bugs are easily transported to and from in the folds and crevices of the fabrics of student backpacks; the school district is testing a new policy of having all students in the district bring their school items to school in a two gallon Ziploc bag instead.  The idea is that if a student is transporting bed bugs with them, that the buggers would be seen and identified by administration through the clear plastic bag.

Understandably, some parents are upset with the new policy because they have already purchased backpacks for their children.  Other parents welcome the change because they do not want a bed bug infestation in their home.  The inevitable result of the change in policy is that residents will become more educated about the detection and identification of bed bugs.  This is great news no matter where you live.  Ultimately, education will be one of the key factors in eradicating pesky bed bugs.

Have your NYC bed bug infestation knocked out by hiring a NYC pest control professional with a proven track record of success.  Contact Stern Environmental Group for expert bed bug eradication services today!