News

Extermination companies that use sniffer dogs to root out bedbug infestations are being recruited in New York City following a recent rise in pest problems, according to reports.

Some 6,889 infestations were reported in the US city last year, compared to just two in 2002.

The rise is partly due to widespread bans of strong pesticides such as DDT, which decimated bedbug populations but were prohibited following fears over the health risks they could pose to humans and their effects on the environment.

Hotels have now resorted to using companies such as Advanced K9 Detectives, which use specially trained dogs to root out infestations, the Times reports.

Carl Massicott, who runs Advanced K9 Detectives, said his work often comes as a surprise to hotel visitors: 'People have thought we were looking for gas leaks, even illegal fruit. No one ever suspects bedbugs.'

Mr Massicott said his dogs are accurate in 98% of cases, provided they are given sufficient rest between searches and are motivated to enjoy the hunt.

The dogs are capable of covering 150 hotel rooms a day and have found bug infestations in unexpected places, including telephones, clocks and radios.

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