Vermont, once considered relatively insulated from urban pest problems, is now facing a significant surge in bed bug infestations. These resilient pests are no longer confined to big cities; they are spreading rapidly across the Green Mountain State, affecting homes, apartments, hotels, and businesses alike.
Here’s a closer look at how five Vermont cities are fighting back against the bed bug onslaught, and the innovative strategies being deployed to reclaim peace of mind for residents and visitors.
1. Burlington: The Epicenter of Vigilance
As Vermont’s largest city and a hub for college students, tourism, and apartment living, Burlington has seen a notable rise in bed bug cases. The transient nature of its population-students, tourists, and short-term renters-makes it particularly vulnerable.
Local pest control companies are employing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, combining regular inspections, staff training, and rapid response protocols.
Hotels and landlords are increasingly turning to biopesticides like Aprehend®, which uses the natural fungus Beauveria bassiana to infect and kill bed bugs, even those resistant to traditional chemicals.
2. Williston: Rapid Response and Community Education
Williston, a growing suburb near Burlington, has prioritized swift intervention and public awareness. Local pest control providers, such as Orkin, offer 24/7 emergency services and next-day scheduling to address infestations before they spread.
Their approach includes life cycle treatments and education campaigns to help residents recognize early warning signs and prevent introductions via secondhand furniture or travel. Williston’s seasonal pest control strategies also adapt to changing weather, ensuring year-round vigilance.
3. Essex Junction: Multi-Unit Housing Challenges
With its mix of multi-family housing and commercial spaces, Essex Junction faces unique challenges. Bed bugs can easily migrate between adjacent units through cracks, wall voids, and utility conduits.
Property managers are working closely with pest control experts to implement building-wide inspection protocols and treat not just affected units but also those adjacent, above, and below-critical to halting the spread. Regular staff training and tenant education are key components of the city’s response.
4. Rutland: Embracing Heat Treatments
In Rutland, bed bug infestations are increasingly being tackled with eco-friendly heat treatments. Companies like PestPro pioneered Thermal Remediation® in Vermont, using dry heat to kill bed bugs at all life stages-egg to adult-without chemicals.
This method is especially effective for large or stubborn infestations and is now a preferred choice for hotels, dormitories, and sensitive environments where pesticide use is a concern. Heat treatments require minimal preparation and allow spaces to be reoccupied within hours.
5. Montpelier: Proactive Prevention in Public Spaces
As the state capital, Montpelier is focused on prevention and early detection in both public and private spaces.
City officials and businesses follow Vermont Department of Health guidelines, which emphasize regular inspections, prompt laundering of bedding at high temperatures, steam cleaning, and the use of mattress encasements.
Public education campaigns encourage residents to report sightings promptly, minimize clutter, and be cautious with secondhand items-a common source of new infestations.
Innovative Tools and Community Collaboration
Across all five cities, Vermont’s fight against bed bugs is marked by:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining chemical, biological, and physical control methods.
- Cutting-Edge Biopesticides: Products like Aprehend® exploit bed bug behavior to spread fungal spores through colonies.
- Heat Remediation: Chemical-free, highly effective, and increasingly popular for commercial properties.
- Education and Training: For hotel staff, landlords, and the public, to identify early signs and prevent spread.
- Rapid Response: 24/7 pest control services and city-wide inspection protocols.
Bed bugs are a growing concern in Vermont, but cities like Burlington, Williston, Essex Junction, Rutland, and Montpelier are leading the charge with innovative, science-backed solutions and community engagement.
Early detection, rapid intervention, and ongoing education are proving essential to combatting this persistent pest-and helping Vermonters “sleep tight” once again.
Sources:
- https://pulaskipestcontrol.com/2025/04/10/from-infestation-to-elimination-bed-bug-behavior-and-the-power-of-aprehend-biopesticide-in-vermont/
- https://www.jcehrlich.com/local-branches/burlington-vt
- https://www.pestpro.net/bed-bugs
- https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2016/11/ENV_FL_LodgingBedBugs2011.pdf
- https://www.orkin.com/locations/vermont-vt/williston-pest-control/branch-996