Are bed bugs a problem in Alaska? Unfortunately, they are. But if you are reading this, no need to worry. In this piece, we guide you through the process of treating a bed bug infestation at home or your workplace for good. Do note that time is of the essence when dealing with bed bugs. But before we get into that, here are some facts about Alaska.
Alaska Quick stats Overview
Right off the bat, it’s quite interesting that, of all the states in the US, Alaska contains a large area of untouched land. And though it is the largest state ranking by area, it has one of the smallest populations.
Alaska Population
Alaska had 734,545 persons as of 2019. The population grows by -0.23%, and the state has a size of 665,384 square miles.
How Many Boroughs are in Alaska?
Alaska is divided into 19 organized boroughs and a single unorganized borough.
How Many Cities Are in Alaska?
There are 360 cities in Alaska. Some of the biggest ones include:
- Anchorage
- Juneau
- Badger
- Fairbanks
- Knik-Fairview
- Wasilla
- Tanaina
- Sitka
- College
Most Popular Sports in Alaska
Winter skiing is by far the most popular sport in Alaska. Actually, Alaska has some of the best ski resorts in the country. Moreover, it has snowmobiling and many areas where you can ride. If you are into biking or walk trails, then Anchorage is the city for you.
Alaska Bed Bug Laws
Bed bug infestations are common in rental properties and apartments. You might find an existing infestation, or the bed bugs may hitch a ride with a tenant or migrate from a neighbor through the walls. Regardless of the situation, below are the laws followed.
- Landlord Responsibility – the landlord is held responsible for keeping the rental in a good and habitable condition. This means ensuring the space is free from bed bugs and any insect infestations.
- Tenant responsibility – after moving in, it’s the responsibility of the tenant to ensure the infestation is dealt with. Luckily, there are rules to ensure the bed bugs are eliminated from the rental property. When taking these steps, it’s important to keep the landlord in the loop and not to attempt the application of pesticides or other harmful chemicals by yourself.
Bug Control Services
Many people associate bed bugs with filth. But this could not be further from the truth. These little bugs aren’t drawn to decay and dirt. But on the flip side, it doesn’t mean they prefer a clean environment either. For them, it’s all about survival. As such, provided they have access to a blood meal (preferably human blood), they thrive. Understanding this is crucial in your fight against bed bugs.
Now, bed bugs, like mosquitoes and ticks, survive on sucking blood. They need the blood to survive and to breed.
The only difference with mosquitoes is that instead of flying they crawl. Luckily, they do not clutch to the host they feed on. Instead, they feed and retreat to their hiding spots. Because of this, they always hide close to their food source.
Once a bed bug hatches (a nymph), it’s difficult to see it since it’s small and has a transparent skin. But as it feeds and grows into an adult, its color changes to reddish-brown. It also gets long, narrow and oval shape and is the size of an apple seed. It is difficult to miss an adult bed bug; not unless the space is cluttered, and there are lots of hiding spots.
So what causes a bed bug infestation? Heck, where did they come from?
Where Bed Bugs Come From
Bed bugs prefer feeding on humans. Today, they can be found in the 50 US states and around the world. Though many people assume that they come from motels and hotels, the list is a little longer since they hitchhike. Some of the common places to be extra careful in include;
- Trains, planes, taxi cabs, cruise liners, and buses
- Office buildings
- City hall
- Universities and colleges
- Nursing homes
- Fire stations
- Middle schools, high schools, and elementary schools
- Police stations
- Theatres
- Libraries
- The workplace
- A friend’s place
How You Know You Have a Bed Bug Infestation Problem
You probably suspect you have bed bugs in Alaska. But how do you ascertain this? well, you can look for the signs of bed bug infestation in your home or office. You will need to be keen to notice them. Moreover, detecting bed bugs early means it’s easier to deal with the situation. The longer you wait, the more expensive and complicated the process is. Also, bear in mind that bird bugs and bat bugs resemble bed bugs. Luckily, we have a skilled team of professionals who can help you know for sure.
But before you call a professional to handle the situation, below are some signs of tipping you off to a bed bug problem:
- Shed skin – once a bed bug egg hatches, it becomes a nymph, and it goes through 5 molting stages before it turns into an adult. With every molt, the bed bug leaves skin in hiding spaces, including the edge of the bed, on the mattresses, cracks, and crevices in the house.
- Fecal matter – when they feed, bed bugs leave fecal matter behind. The fecal matter is usually tiny black dots. You can see them on the mattress covers or your beddings.
- Blood – bed bugs prefer to feed when you are asleep. This way, you do not move around a lot. But from time to time, you will move around and accidentally squash them. This leaves bloodstains on your mattress. The squashing is accidental because as they feed, they inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant into your skin, causing you to go numb to the piercing pain and your blood will not clot in the process.
- Eggs – although these are tiny and always difficult to see if you use a magnifying glass to inspect your space, you can see the tiny white eggs.
- Nymphs – just like other insects, bed bugs go through several life stages. They start white, and then the color gets darker as they molt an inch closer to adulthood.
- Adult bed bugs – you know you have a bed bug problem when you spot a live bed bug in your home or office. And if you have a regular sleeping pattern, you can spot them at night when you retire to bed. Or in the office, when you are working.
- Odor – a space that is heavily infested with bed bugs often has a strong odor. Humans can smell bed bugs when the infestation is large, but bed bug dogs Alaska can confirm even a small infestation.
Call us for Bed Bug Treatment
Once you ascertain that you have a bed bug problem, you should call us to handle the problem for you. Sure, you can opt to handle it as a DIY but if unsuccessful, you’ll not only spend more money, but also have helped the bed bugs develop more resilience against treatments, especially pesticides.
Below are the treatment steps that we follow for bed bug infestation in Alaska.
Assessment
Once you reach out to us, the first step will be to inspect your premise. Sure, you know you have a bed bug infestation problem. But before we can recommend a treatment, we need to determine the size of the infestation, and the rooms infested. We also need to know you are dealing with bed bugs.
We send in a specialist to conduct the inspection. The specialist checks the common hiding spots, including rugs, furniture, beds, closets, linens, and cracks in the premise.
Implement
Once the assessment is complete, we recommend the best treatment. Our recommendation is usually directed or influenced by your budget, the size of the infestation, the areas affected, and the treatment plans you have tried in the past.
Also, we consider the time you have to spare and whether you have kids and pets in the house. If you prefer eco-friendly treatments, we will present you with a host of options as well.
The treatment plan will kill the eggs, the nymphs, and adult bed bugs all in one go.
Monitor
After effecting the treatment plan, we shall monitor the situation a couple of weeks after. Bed bugs are stubborn creatures. Because of this, we conduct follow-ups to ensure that the process was effective. We are all about offering value to our clients.
What to Expect From Our Alaska Bed Bug Treatment Services
Once you get in touch with us, you are assured of the following:
Working with professional bed bug exterminators
It is no secret, bed bugs in Alaska are a pain to get rid of. It takes a skilled and experienced hand to kick them to the curb. Our team of specialists has handled bed bug infestations for a number of years. They know where these little creatures hide and what works best against them. Moreover, they know what treatments to use and are safe for your home and those in it. And last but not least, they have picked up on some tips and tricks which quicken the process.
Custom treatment plan
What works for your space may not necessarily work in another space. We consider several factors and your preferences before we start. The treatment plan that we focus on is designed to yield the best results.
Time conscious
Bed bugs do not reproduce fast. However, with the compounding effect, it means a couple of bed bugs today will transform into a full-blown infestation in two months. As such, we are quick to respond to your queries. In the process, we save you some time and money.
Also, as we implement the treatment plan, we aim to work with your schedule. Whenever you are available, we shall commence. However, bear in mind that once the treatment starts, it needs to continue to completion for maximum effectiveness.
Advanced technology
Some treatment plans, including heat treatment, require specialized equipment. We use the best in the industry to ensure effectiveness and safety throughout the process.
Types of Alaska Bed Bugs Solutions that We Use
Whole room treatments
With this treatment plan, we use special equipment to raise the temperatures in a room to kill bed bugs. Though they are resilient, at high temperatures of 1180F, they die within 90 minutes. When the temperature clocks 1120F, they die immediately. During this treatment, the room is sealed in preparation for the process. PNP thermometers are placed throughout the rooms to make sure proper temperatures are reached.
The heat treatment lasts for between six and eight hours, depending on the size of the space. For this treatment, any heat-sensitive items and pets should be removed. The benefit of this treatment is that no residue is left behind. Also, the heat penetrates the cracks and tight spots to kill bed bugs.
Insecticide treatment
This treatment is effective when conducted by a trained professional and when the right products are used. The three types of insecticides we use include;
- Residual insecticide
- Dust insecticide
- Fast-acting insecticide
We don’t recommend handling insecticides by yourself. The process is challenging and takes a lot of time. Moreover, you might need a license to use insecticides.
What Now?
If you suspect bed bugs in your premise, book an appointment with us ASAP through 888-681-5908. The inspection is free and will serve you with a clear picture of what you are dealing with.
