Toronto 
Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite! Well, if you live or travel to one of these cities in Canada, Orkin Canada says you have a higher chance of getting up in the morning with nasty rashes.
Credit: J Shim on Unsplash
Bed bugs, the insects that live on the blood of humans and animals, are efficient hitchhikers and Orkin Canada, the country’s largest pest control provider, has released its annual list of top bed bug cities based on the number of commercial and residential bed bug treatments carried out by the company between the period of January 1 – December 31, 2023.
Topping the list is Toronto, followed by Sudbury and Oshawa, making up the top three.
Vancouver dropped from second to sixth place on this year’s ranking, while Sudbury rose to second place and Oshawa to third. Winnipeg also cracked the top ten this year after placing eleventh in 2022, now ranking seventh across the country.
Bed bugs are known to thrive in environments with a steady supply of food and can easily travel from one location to another through clothing, personal belongings, vacuum cleaners, and infested furniture.
25 Canadian Cities With Highest Bed Bug Infestations
CNW Group/Orkin Canada
- Toronto
- Sudbury
- Oshawa
- Hamilton
- Ottawa
- Vancouver
- Winnipeg
- St. John’s
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Scarborough
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- London
- Montreal
- Timmins
- Windsor
- North York
- Moncton
- Halifax
- Etobicoke
- Mississauga
- Niagara Falls
- Prince George
- Peterborough
- Saskatoon
As Canadians plan their 2024 travels, Orkin Canada urges them to be mindful of the signs and traces of bed bugs to avoid bringing any unwanted hitchhikers back home.
To prevent bed bug infestations at home, homeowners should check their homes for signs of bed bugs frequently. Bed bug hot zones, such as mattresses, behind baseboards, nightstands, and soft furniture, should be examined in bedrooms or sleeping areas. In living rooms, focus on the couches or sitting areas. Homeowners can also declutter their space to make it easier to search for bed bugs and consider installing bed bug monitors.
When travelling, bed bugs can easily hitchhike onto your luggage or clothing. Travellers should avoid putting their luggage or clothing directly on the bed and use metal luggage racks, as bed bugs cannot climb metal surfaces. Suitcase and bag protector plastic bags can also be used to encase luggage and protect them from bed bugs. Travellers should also pack clothing and personal items in small, untorn plastic bags and be cautious of bed bug threats on airplanes, trains, buses, and rental cars.
Once travellers return home, they should vacuum their travel suitcase or bags promptly and clean both the inside and outside thoroughly. It is also important to dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister in an outside garbage receptacle to prevent bed bugs from re-infesting your home.
