By: Glenys Robinson, OSCIA Events and Communications Coordinator

Ticks are increasingly becoming a safety concern for anyone who spends time outdoors in Ontario – including farmers. There are multiple species of ticks present across Ontario. The habitat range of many tick species is shifting in Ontario, causing ticks to be found in regions of the province that previously did not support their life cycle. As a result of shifting tick populations, the rates of tick-borne illnesses – namely, Lyme disease – are rising in Ontario. Range expansion is being caused by a variety of factors, including climate change and changes in landscape use. Increased care should be taken by all Ontarians when venturing outside.

While many people consider ticks to be a summer issue – and it’s true that they are most active in the spring and summer – it is possible to encounter ticks whenever the temperature is above freezing. The ideal environment for ticks is brush or tall grass, with leaf litter to keep the ground damp and provide shelter for tick eggs.

Most adult ticks are 3-5mm in size (although they expand significantly as they feed). However, during the nymph stage of their lifecycle, ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. Even in the nymph stage, tick bites can transmit disease. Furthermore, most people do not feel tick bites, so it is important to be vigilant when performing tick checks after being outside. The most notable species of tick in Ontario is Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged tick or deer tick. Another commonly seen species is Dermacentor variabilis, the American dog tick, which can feed on humans but does not carry Lyme disease. Infected blacklegged ticks can transmit Lyme disease through their bite. While it is less likely outside of high-risk areas, it is possible to encounter a Lyme-carrying tick anywhere in Ontario. Public Health Ontario has a Lyme disease risk area map that can help you assess the risk of Lyme disease in your region: https://www.publichealthontario.ca

There are some tick safety tips you can use to mitigate the risk of contracting Lyme disease:

• Wear light-coloured clothing, to make it easier to spot ticks.
• Wear long sleeves and pants. Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks.
• Avoid walking through brush or tall grass wherever possible.
• Use bug spray containing DEET or Icaridin.
• Perform a full body tick check on yourself as soon as possible after being outside. Be sure to check the groin, armpits, behind the ears, behind the knees and scalp – ticks can hide in nooks and crannies!
• Take a shower as soon as possible after being outside.
• Put the clothes you wore outside in the dryer on high heat.
• Be aware that pets can carry ticks into the home, where they can transfer to humans. Speak with your veterinarian about tick prevention for pets.
• Water protection tip: remember that dogs that have recently received topical tick treatments should not be allowed to enter bodies of water, as the chemicals can damage aquatic ecosystems. Consult the medication label and your veterinarian for more information.

If you find a latched tick, it should be removed as soon as possible. Use tweezers or a specialty tick remover tool to grasp the tick’s head, as close to your skin as possible. Do not grasp the tick by its abdomen (main body segment). Slowly pull the tick out, without twisting or squeezing the tick. Once the tick is removed, place it in a sealed container to be identified, and in case you need to bring it to your healthcare provider. Clean the bite area thoroughly with soap or alcohol. Some public health authorities provide tick-identification services – check your local public health authority for more resources.