Bedbug bites can be annoying and painful. Image: Flickr / hiyori13 / CC-BY-SA
For travelers in other countries, bed bugs are always of concern. A resurgence of bed bugs in the United States has led to the Bed Bug Registry. A way of exacting revenge on the bloodsucking little bugs, the Bed Bug Registry is a user-run database of bedbug sightings.
Biting bedbug blues
The bedbug is technically a parasite that feeds on blood. Mainly active at night, bedbugs are usually found in beds, couches, and other upholstered furniture. There has recently been a resurgence in bedbugs that are resistant to normal pesticides. The theory is that bedbugs are coming back because of increased international travel. Though bedbugs usually carry a stigma, the truth is that bedbugs can happen just about anywhere, and can be very difficult to get rid of. The natural predators of bedbugs — spiders, ants, cockroaches and centipedes are usually banned from homes.
Bedbug registry
After being bitten by bedbugs in 2006, computer programmer Maciej Ceglowski started the Bedbug registry. The website is designed for user-submitted reports of bedbugs. The site does not try to verify any of the sites submitted to their bedbug registry. There is a way for any location to dispute a report submitted to the bedbug registry, but reports that meet posting guidelines are not removed without the author’s permission. If a location is reported once and then has no further reports for two years, the location is removed from the bedbug registry.
Protecting yourself from bedbugs
When you’re traveling, checking the Bedbug Registry can be the first step in protecting yourself. Remember that the reports submitted to the Bedbug Registry are not confirmed, by any means — so look for patterns. Much like most user-submitted reviews, some may be inaccurate. If you do suspect that you’ve found a bedbug problem, report it immediately. It is very possible that the hotel or your host may not know that they have an infestation, and the earlier they are addressed the more likely they are to have a chance at beating it.
I am writing this in response to the above accusation that the Kaatskill Mountain Club is infested with bed bugs. This accusation is completely unfounded. In this post, Mr. Green has posted his name; however, we have no record of him as a registered guest of the resort at any point in time, nor has he been in contact with the management at the Kaatskill Mountain Club or Hunter Mountain. This post seems to be a slanderous attempt to make Hunter look unprofessional and uncaring for an unknown reason. This comment originally appeared on TripAdvisor, who found it to be unsubstantiated and removed the posting. The Kaatskill Mountain Club has a proactive plan in place. All of our hotel staff is trained to identify the signs of bed bugs and practice regular inspections as part of daily room cleaning. I am sure all hoteliers would agree the bed bug situation has become a wide spread epidemic; however, our facility is bed bug free, and is undeserving of such slander. Any hotel deserves an opportunity to directly address complaints, especially unfounded ones, rather than finding them on the internet. Very disappointing.
Jessica
On behalf of the Kaatskill Mountain Club and Hunter Mountain
Hunter Mountain / Katskill Hotel Club – Bed Bugs Infestation
Has any one experienced BED BUG crisis
At the Kaatskill Mountain Club located at
Hunter Mountain, Hunter NY?
Our family of 5 spent 2 nights at Hunter Mtn
(huntermtn.com) Kaatskill Mountain Club
this fall, and discovered we contracted
numerous bed bug bites.
Both my kids and my wife had Ugly Red Blotches
on their Arms & Back.
I had large red welts on my legs and groin region.
Complaints to Hunter Mountain’s President and
General Manager Russ Colotron were generally dismissed.
Upon our return to our home, we asked
our long time doctor to view the families red welts.
He said: they appeared to be BED BUG BITES.
He further suggested we dry clean or dispose of all garments
to rid the parasites.
The advice was good, however these tiny critter managed
to hide in our shoes, sneakers
and the suitcase then invade our home.
We were forced to spent $870 for 2 exterminators
to rid this problem from our home.
If any one else has contracted BED BUGS
frm Hunter Mtn or their Katskill Club Hotel –
Please email us at:
hunterbedbugs@math.com
We plan to formally sue this filthy resort to
recover our extermination costs and discomfort.
Thank you
TODD.GREEN