GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (WZZM) - A Grand Rapids area apartment complex is finding out how difficult it is to get rid of bed bugs. "It's a mess, I tell you," says resident Deb Bigelow.
Exterminators have been battling the bugs for over a month in the suburban apartment complex. They have taken up residence in over half of the apartments in a 12-unit building.
"They were everywhere," says resident Kaitlin Oele. "On my mattress and around my bed. I actually left my apartment for 4 days because it took them about a week to do something and I didn't want to sleep with the bugs." Exterminators were able to clean the bed bugs out of Oele's apartment.
"I have not seen any since," she says. But the insects have now moved into other areas of the 12 apartment building.
"They found found 2 bed bugs behind my mom's mirror and said they were going to come and exterminate," says Deb Bigelow, who lives in the building with her mother and cat. "I've got a headache from the smell."
Bed bugs are difficult to get rid of because they are small and flat and able to escape into small openings. They drink the blood of humans and other mammals, but can go up to a year between meals. And the poisons most effective against bed bugs are no longer used.
"They said they are blood suckers," says Bigelow. "They suck the blood out of you."
Bed bugs can take up residence anywhere. Getting them doesn't mean you aren't clean.
We decided not to name the infested apartment complex in suburban Grand Rapids because they are trying to eliminate the insects, but we wanted to warn viewers they could also be sharing their beds with unwelcome visitors. For more information log onto www.bedbugger.com.
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