As nocturnal, bloodsucking insects feed off sleeping students in increasing numbers, some colleges are taking the environmentally friendly approach of siccing dogs on the creepy critters before cooking them to death.



The University of Florida and Texas A&M are among those using bedbug-sniffing dogs and high-heat chambers rather than insecticides to eradicate the pests.

Bedbugs still prefer hotels and motels over college dormitories _ 37.2 percent compared to just 2 percent. But Greg Baumann with the National Pest Management Association says college campuses are being especially vigilant because the bugs can spread quickly.

They don't normally carry any diseases, but their bites do produce itchy red bumps.

West Virginia University in Morgantown has had four reported cases since classes began last month. WVU spokeswoman Janey Cink says that's slightly more than normal.

Marshall spokesman Dave Wellman says the Huntington university hasn't had a problem for about ten years since it switched to vinyl mattresses.

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