Bed bugs have emerged as a persistent menace across Minnesota, with infestations surging in urban centers due to travel, dense housing, and secondhand goods. Recent reports highlight five key cities leading the battle against these resilient pests. This article examines the crisis, impacts, and countermeasures based on U.S. pest control data.
Minneapolis Leads the Infestation Rankings
Minneapolis tops Minnesota’s list for bed bug troubles, climbing to No. 40 on Orkin’s 2025 Top 50 U.S. cities list—up seven spots from No. 47 in 2024. Orkin tracked treatments from mid-2024 to mid-2025, revealing heightened residential and commercial calls amid post-travel spikes. The city’s multi-unit apartments and hotels fuel spread, with city health officials noting complaints in high-density neighborhoods like downtown and near universities.
Local exterminators report bed bugs hitching rides on luggage from infested hubs like Chicago, No. 1 nationally for five years. Minneapolis combats this through public education campaigns, urging inspections of mattress seams and furniture. Heat treatments and canine detection have become standard, though repeat infestations challenge efforts.
St. Paul: Twin City’s Hidden Hotspot
As Minneapolis’s neighbor, St. Paul ranks prominently in Pest Gnome’s 2024 analysis of 500 U.S. cities, driven by accommodations, multi-unit buildings, and density metrics. Though not in Orkin’s top 50, state bed bug registries log frequent hotel and apartment reports. The city’s older housing stock offers ideal hiding spots in cracks and upholstery.
St. Paul partners with Ramsey County for free inspections and enforces landlord disclosures on infestations. Recent upticks tie to seasonal moves and thrift shopping, prompting awareness weeks with free traps distribution. Experts note chemical resistance in local strains, pushing integrated pest management like steam vaporizing.
Rochester’s Surprising Rise
Rochester secured No. 134 on Pest Gnome’s 2024 worst cities list, with middling infestation risk but strong pest control access. Mayo Clinic’s visitor influx from across the U.S. introduces bed bugs via travel, hitting hotels hardest. Local reports cite outbreaks in medical lodging and rentals.
The city responds with clinic-led protocols, including pre-check screenings and professional fumigation subsidies. Olmsted County health tracks cases, emphasizing early detection to curb economic hits from room closures.
Duluth’s Northern Struggle
Duluth appears in niche studies as a bed bug concern, linked to tourism and port activity spreading pests from Great Lakes shipping. Though absent from major 2025 Orkin rankings, user reports on BedBugReports.com flag hotels like those in Canal Park. Dense student housing near the University of Minnesota Duluth amplifies risks during move-in seasons.
Duluth deploys community fumigation drives and educates via Mix 108 radio alerts on prevention. Cold winters slow but don’t eliminate bugs, which survive indoors; locals favor encasements and interceptors.
Other Cities on Alert: Bloomington and White Bear Lake
Bloomington, home to Mall of America, battles via high-traffic retail drawing infested luggage; it features in broader Minnesota lists. Recent hotel complaints underscore vigilance needs. White Bear Lake reports from Best Western highlight suburban spread, with 2025 incidents at properties.
These cities join statewide efforts, including Minnesota Department of Health guidelines on laundering at 120°F and vacuuming. Bloomington funds mall-wide scans, while White Bear Lake mandates reporting.
Causes and Spread Factors
Bed bugs thrive in Minnesota’s indoors, resisting cold and chemicals evolved since their 1990s resurgence. Travel from hotspots like Chicago, plus used furniture and rideshares, accelerates invasions. Multi-family dwellings account for 70% of calls, per Orkin data. Economic pressures delay professional help, worsening outbreaks.
U.S.-wide, Chicago dominates, but Midwest climbs reflect migration patterns. Minnesota’s issue mirrors national trends, with Google searches for “bed bugs” spiking seasonally.
Combat Strategies and Prevention
Cities deploy multifaceted approaches: heat treatments killing at 120°F, insecticides, and mattress covers. Canine teams detect eggs missed by eyes. Public campaigns stress “look, don’t touch” for bites—itchy welts in lines.
Residents should inspect seams, use interceptors, and quarantine luggage. Professional services average $1,500-$5,000 per infestation. Policy pushes include rental laws requiring treatment within 7 days. Success stories from early intervention cut reinfestations 50%.
SOURCES:
- https://kroc.com/bed-bugs-in-minnesota
- https://quickcountry.com/bed-bug-infested-minneapolis
