Alpine associations in Austria, Germany, and South Tyrol have launched a joint information campaign to combat the spread of bed bugs in mountain shelters and destigmatise the issue for hikers and hut operators.
The German Alpine Association estimates that five to twenty huts annually — roughly five percent of its network — are affected, with numbers trending upward. The insects are carried between shelters in backpacks and clothing by unwitting hikers. The Austrian Alpine Association received five suspected bed bug reports in 2025, underscoring the growing concern across the region.
Bed bugs, which grow to only a few millimetres and do not transmit diseases, thrive in the shared, high-traffic sleeping quarters typical of alpine refuges. The campaign urges hikers to inspect gear and report sightings promptly to help prevent further infestations.