Several Colorado cities are actively combating a rising bed bug problem, reflecting a broader national trend of infestations. The five key cities facing significant bed bug challenges are Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder, and Wheat Ridge.
Cities and Bed Bug Issues
- Denver: Ranked as the 15th worst city in the U.S. for bed bugs, Denver has seen a sharp increase in bed bug treatments and complaints, partly due to its dense population and status as a major travel hub.
- Colorado Springs: The city is experiencing a steady rise in bed bug reports, driven by its growing population and tourism, making infestations more common.
- Fort Collins: As a college town with frequent housing turnover and a transient student population, Fort Collins faces challenges with bed bugs spreading through dorms and rental properties.
- Boulder: Boulder County has taken proactive measures by educating residents on prevention and control, promoting non-chemical treatments like heat methods, and providing comprehensive guidelines to combat infestations.
- Wheat Ridge: The severity of bed bug problems here is underscored by legal actions such as tenant lawsuits against landlords for failing to address infestations, illustrating the difficulties in managing the issue1.
Strategies to Combat Bed Bugs
Colorado cities are employing a multifaceted approach to address bed bug infestations:
- Education and Awareness: Providing residents with resources to identify and prevent infestations is a priority.
- Legislative Action: Colorado has enacted strong bed bug laws, notably House Bill 19-1328, which mandates landlords to inspect within 96 hours of tenant notification and to implement a treatment plan within five days if bed bugs are found. The law also requires inspection and treatment of contiguous units and holds landlords financially responsible for costs, except in cases of tenant non-compliance.
- Professional Pest Control: Cities encourage the use of qualified pest control experts to ensure effective eradication, emphasizing multi-step treatment plans over single spray treatments.
- Non-Chemical Treatments: Alternatives such as heat treatments are promoted to reduce reliance on pesticides.
- Early Detection: Prompt reporting and inspection are stressed to prevent infestations from spreading widely.
Legal Context and Tenant Rights
Colorado’s bed bug laws provide strong protections for tenants:
- Landlords must inspect within 96 hours of notification and treat infestations comprehensively.
- They cannot rent out infested properties and must disclose past infestations to prospective tenants.
- Tenants must report infestations promptly and comply with treatment preparations; failure to do so may result in liability for treatment costs.
- If landlords fail to act, tenants can break leases without penalty and may sue for damages related to property loss, medical expenses, and emotional distress.
- Hotels also have legal obligations to address infestations or face penalties.
Why Are Bed Bugs a Problem in These Cities?
Bed bugs spread primarily through hitchhiking on clothing, luggage, and furniture, making cities with high travel, tourism, and transient populations-such as college towns-particularly vulnerable. Bed bugs are not linked to cleanliness but are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide, affecting residences regardless of sanitation.
Colorado’s bed bug problem is concentrated in urban and college towns with high population movement. Cities like Denver and Colorado Springs are hotspots, while Boulder and Wheat Ridge focus on education and legal enforcement. The state’s stringent laws ensure landlords act swiftly to control infestations, protecting tenants and helping to curb the bed bug onslaught.
Sources:
- https://www.mylolowcountry.com/usa-laws/insect-invasion-5-colorado-cities-combatting-bed-bug-onslaught/
- https://pestgnome.com/blog/bed-bugs/co-bed-bugs/
- https://www.nocopwcontrol.com/does-colorado-have-a-lot-of-bed-bugs/
- https://cdphe.colorado.gov/bedbug-infestations
- https://www.ramoslaw.com/colorado-bedbug-laws/
