Bed Bug Prevention

Bed bug bites often manifest as small, red, itchy bumps, occasionally appearing in a line or cluster. It’s important to note that not everyone exhibits visible signs of bites, and the Muskoka region is home to a variety of insects that can produce similar marks, including mosquitoes, black flies, deer flies, and ticks. To help you identify bed bug bites, please refer to this link for images. If you have any concerns, our team is always here to assist you and ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible.

Bed bugs are a nuisance but they don’t pose serious health risks. They do not transmit diseases to humans. However, their bites can cause itching and discomfort, and in some cases, allergic reactions.

Absolutely not! Bed bugs do not discriminate — they can affect anyone, regardless of cleanliness, income, or race. These resilient pests spread through luggage, clothing, and furniture, making them a common issue across all sectors of society. At Muskoka Woods, we are dedicated to ensuring a pest-free environment for all our guests, so you can focus on enjoying your time with us. Rest assured, our vigilant team takes proactive measures to prevent and address any potential concerns.

Bed bugs can inadvertently be brought into summer camps, hotels, airplanes, and other places through guests’ luggage, clothing, and personal items. These tiny hitchhikers can also latch onto visitors. Once inside, bed bugs hide in mattresses, furniture, and crevices, quickly incubating and becoming a nuisance. Our team is committed to preventing these unwelcome guests by implementing rigorous inspection and cleaning protocols, ensuring your stay with us is worry-free and enjoyable.

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate due to their exceptional hiding abilities and resilience. However, at Muskoka Woods, our prevention and treatment strategies are designed to control and effectively eliminate these pesky pests. While complete eradication can be challenging, our comprehensive approach — including Aprehend™ spray, SenSci Volcano™ traps, Heat Assault™ solutions, and BEAPCO™ traps — ensures that we stay ahead of potential infestations. Our commitment to maintaining a clean and comfortable environment means you can relax and enjoy your time with us, knowing we are vigilant in our efforts to keep bed bugs at bay.

At Muskoka Woods, we take proactive steps to ensure our cabins remain bed bug-free. Traps in every cabin are inspected on Saturdays by our trained camp counsellors. In addition, our enhanced monitoring protocol requires traps to be inspected daily for a period of 7-14 days to ensure early detection and swift action if needed. This rigorous inspection schedule is part of our commitment to providing a safe and comfortable environment for all our guests.

At Muskoka Woods, transparency and communication are paramount in addressing any concerns regarding bed bugs:

• Courtesy call: If there is a bed bug report and it directly impacts your child, you will receive a courtesy call promptly. This call will outline the issue and detail the actions taken to address it.
• Early notification: In some cases, your child may inform you about the issue before all information and inspections are completed. Please rest assured that we prioritize prompt and transparent communication throughout the process.

Our commitment to your comfort and safety means that we handle bed bug incidents swiftly and efficiently, ensuring that your experience at Muskoka Woods remains enjoyable and worry-free.

At Muskoka Woods, the well-being of every guest is our top priority, especially when it comes to concerns about bed bugs. Our Health Care Centre, staffed by a doctor and a team of nurses every week, is always ready to help. If there are any signs of bed bug bites, our healthcare team will immediately notify our Director of Operations, our resident bed bug expert, who will then conduct a thorough assessment. As a precaution, we will also investigate the cabin. Should the bites be confirmed as bed bug bites, we will initiate our detailed remediation process, ensuring clear communication with both guests and parents.

To ensure a bed bug-free return from camp, follow these precautions:

• Inspect belongings: Before bringing your child’s belongings inside, thoroughly inspect them for any signs of bed bugs.

• Wash clothes: Wash all clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes. This helps kill any potential bed bugs or eggs that may have hitchhiked home.
• Vacuum and inspect luggage: Vacuum and inspect luggage thoroughly, paying attention to seams and pockets where bed bugs could hide.
• Consider sealing luggage: During the camp stay, consider sealing luggage in plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from getting inside.

By taking these proactive steps, you can minimize the risk of bringing bed bugs home and ensure a comfortable and worry-free transition after any travel.

If you discover bed bugs at home, it’s essential to take swift action to address the issue effectively:

• Contact professional pest control: Immediately contact a professional pest control service that specializes in bed bug eradication. They will conduct thorough inspections to assess the extent of the infestation and recommend appropriate treatment options.

• Treatment options: Professionals may use a combination of chemical and non-chemical methods to eradicate bed bugs. These methods can include insecticide treatments, heat treatments, steam treatments, and vacuuming.
• Follow recommendations: Follow the recommendations provided by the pest control experts, which may include preparing your home by decluttering, laundering clothes and linens in hot water, and vacuuming thoroughly.
• Monitor and follow-up: After treatment, monitor your home for any signs of bed bugs and follow up with any additional treatments or inspections recommended by the pest control professionals.

Taking these measures promptly and thoroughly will help eliminate bed bugs from your home and prevent further infestations, ensuring a comfortable living environment for you and your family.

Yes, the bed bug spray we use at Muskoka Woods, Aprehend™, is safe for humans and pets. The active ingredient is a naturally occurring fungus called Beauveria bassiana, which has been used in agricultural products for over 20 years without significant adverse effects.

The spores in Aprehend™ stick to surfaces, minimizing any risk of inhalation, especially for allergy sufferers. Additionally, Aprehend™ is environmentally friendly and does not lead to chemical resistance in bed bugs.

Treated areas need to be vacated for two hours to ensure safety, fitting smoothly into our camp’s schedule. This makes Aprehend™ a reliable and eco-friendly choice for maintaining a healthy, pest-free environment at Muskoka Woods.

Bed bug sprays and traps used at Muskoka Woods are chosen for their effectiveness and safety, including their impact on personal belongings. When used properly, these products should not damage luggage, clothing, or other personal items. Our team takes great care in applying treatments to ensure that belongings remain unharmed.

At Muskoka Woods, we take every precaution to protect your belongings during heat treatment. The controlled heat levels used are designed to be safe for most personal items, including luggage and clothing. Our experienced staff will provide guidance on any specific items that may need special attention.