Tick season is here in Ontario. What to know, and how to prepare

Tick season is upon us as warmer weather rapidly approaches and settles across southern Ontario. That means the risk of contracting a tick bite is higher, with black-legged ticks most active in the spring.

While officials in the City of Toronto acknowledge that the risk of contracting Lyme disease is considered low, it is increasing.

Here is everything you need to know about ticks and how to prepare this spring and summer.

When are ticks most active?

Ticks thrive in weather 4 C and higher, but they have been shown to survive in temperatures lower than that. Ticks, and the more common black-legged tick, begin a term called “questing” in the spring when a tick looks for a host, like a dog, cat or person, to feed on.

According to Tick Talk Canada, there is a current elevated risk for tick activity in Toronto. That will continue throughout much of April as the weather warms.

“They survive the winter, protected under snow, leaf litter, or brush. Black-legged ticks can be active when temperatures are 4 C and above, including mild days during the winter months.”

Adult blacklegged ticks are less active in the summer as they prefer cooler temperatures.

Which ticks are most common in Ontario?

The provincial government says black-legged ticks are found throughout Ontario and live in woodlands, tall grasses and bushes — including the five eastern counties. Public Health Ontario says the number of infected black-legged ticks increases yearly.

The most common species of ticks in Canada include deer ticks, American dog ticks, brown dog ticks and lone star ticks. Black-legged ticks are not usually found on lawns, mowed grass, sports fields or paved areas.

How to identify a tick

Adult ticks are about the size of a sesame seed, while immature nymphs can be as small as a poppy seed. The City of Toronto says the size of the tick varies depending on its life stage and whether it has fed recently (ticks that fed are typically larger and rounder in size).

A diagram showing an adult male and female Deer Tick (Black-legged tick). Photo: The University of Rhode Island.

Black-legged and deer ticks are almost identical, with an adult female a lighter, almost orange-like colour than the male. This species does carry Lyme disease.

Ticks cannot fly or jump but can attach to any part of the human body. If found, it may be in hard-to-see areas such as the armpits, groin and scalp.

How to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease

To get Lyme disease, a person must be bitten by an infected black-legged tick. The City of Toronto says the risk of human infection increases with the time a tick is attached to a person and usually requires the tick to be attached for 24 hours or more.

Tick bites are usually painless, so you may not know you’ve been bitten. A tick bite doesn’t guarantee the transmission of Lyme disease. A tick must be infected with the bacteria to pass it on to a human or pet.

Photo: Erik Karits.

Some prevention tips include wearing long pants and long sleeves. Light-coloured clothing may make ticks easier to spot.

Apply insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, walk closer to the centre of trails, and avoid brushy areas that may extend out on the trail edges. After spending time outdoors in wooded or bushy areas, you should shower to remove ticks before they become attached.

Carefully check your entire body and head for attached ticks, and if you find a tick on your body, remove it as soon as possible. It’s also recommended to keep lawns mowed and grass short and remove leaf litter, brush and weeds at the edge of the lawn and from stone walls and wood piles.

What to do when you spot a tick and how to remove it

The risk of getting Lyme disease increases with the time the tick remains attached to your body. That is why it’s important to remove it as soon as possible.

The City of Toronto suggests using fine-tipped tweezers and pulling upwards. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid any direct skin contact with the tick. If tweezers are unavailable, ticks can be removed using fingers, but be careful not to crush the tick.

After removal, kill the tick by placing it inside a container filled with rubbing alcohol. You may keep the tick and bring it to a doctor or veterinarian for further examination.

The City of Toronto cautions that if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Tell the doctor about the recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick.

Lyme Disease symptoms and when to see a doctor

According to Public Health Ontario, Lyme disease symptoms usually occur within three to 30 days after a tick bite. They include the following:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pains
• Spasms
• Numbness or tingling
• Facial paralysis
• Fatigue
• Swollen glands

A circular, red rash (bull’s eye rash) occurs in 70 to 80 per cent of people with Lyme disease.

If Lyme infection is not recognized and treated, it can affect the heart, nervous system or joints. If it’s caught early, Lyme disease can generally be treated successfully.

Photo: James Barker.

Caring for pets

Checking your pet regularly for ticks is crucial if they spend time outdoors. If you find a tick on your pet, remove it immediately and safely. Ticks may attach to them and be carried indoors, putting you and your family at risk of being bitten.

Pets can have an allergic reaction to a bite, causing itchiness and or sensitivity at the site of the bite, but this is considered rare.

The steps for removing a tick for your pet are the same as those of a human. Ticks often feed on rodents, deer and birds, and it’s essential to monitor pets, particularly dogs if they have been in contact with those animals, dead or alive.

For pet-related tick prevention products, talk to your veterinarian.