Saskatoon exterminator says cockroaches live 'everywhere you go'
Saskatoon residents may not think of bug infestations as a common problem, but over the past few years there’s one creepy crawler that is making its presence known.
“We see cockroaches everywhere,” says Sayful Ahmed, owner of Bye Bye Cockroach.
This extermination company has been dealing with an increasing number of calls to apartments, houses and businesses from residents concerned about an infestation.
“In the last two to three years, it’s increased drastically. Like everywhere you go,” he says.
Ahmed posts videos of the bugs on his business’ Facebook page.
The most commonly seen cockroach in western Canada is the German cockroach. They can tolerate temperatures as low as -10 but tend to stay indoors, he says.
“They are small but tough ones. They can survive any kind of weather conditions,” he says.
An entomologist from the University of Manitoba (U of M) says having cockroaches in Canada is nothing new, but where he is located in Winnipeg, they’re also seeing numbers increase.
“Left uncontrolled, these insects are capable of producing quite high numbers of offspring. Once established there is the potential for spread and increase,” said Jordan Bannerman, entomology instructor at the U of M.
They are mostly found in kitchens and bathrooms, according to Bannerman, who says having them in your home doesn’t always indicate a lack of cleanliness.
An image from one of Ahmed's customer's homes. (Source: Facebook / Bye Bye Cockroach)
He admits they do pose a health issue because of how they move from place to place, touching food and leaving fecal matter behind.
“They can spread bacteria from one place to another which is a problem with food contamination,” he says.
Some of the theories on why there are more cockroaches now include increased movement of people between cities around the world — they could be taking some small travellers with them in bags or on clothing. The same goes for the groceries we buy, which come from many countries.
Ahmed has found a possible link to ten customers who ordered products online recently. Once they got information from the resident, it was hard to deny the connection.
“All ten of the customers had an Amazon package the week before. We are guessing they all came from Amazon packaging,” he said.
Boxes provide an ideal place for cockroach eggs to live. Each egg sack can produce upwards of 20 cockroaches according to Bannerman.
“Pretty much anything that we’re moving around could harbour egg cases. I’m not singling out cardboard in any way, but cardboard or shipping materials are absolutely a potential pathway for spread.”
Bye Bye Cockroach uses a non-chemical bait treatment, and local property manager Jordan Marcoux tells CTV News that while he’s found this method to be completely successful at eradicating the bugs — tenants have to be diligent as well.
“We can’t control the cleanliness all the time so that can be a challenge and once they pop up in one unit, they travel,” said Marcoux, who works with Boyes Group Realty.
The experts we spoke to say, if you suspect you have roaches, setting a sticky trap first to assess the situation is a good idea, then calling an exterminator to deal with the problem.
This could help you avoid any horror stories ù like the one Ahmed recalls as the worst infestation he’s seen in Saskatoon.
“When we walked into one apartment, we couldn’t see the floor, it had that many cockroaches. It was like a zombie movie. It was quite an experience.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.