Ticks are expanding their territory across Canada, and health officials are urging residents to check for the arachnids every time they step outside — not just after a hike deep in the woods.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health recently updated their tick guidance as local populations of the blood-sucking critters continue to grow and are now turning up in unexpected places, including residential gardens. The message is clear: tick season is no longer just a summer thing, and the risk isn't limited to wilderness trails.
Why Ticks Are Spreading
Blacklegged ticks — also known as deer ticks — are the primary concern because they can carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can cause serious long-term health problems if left untreated. Milder winters and shifting climate conditions have allowed tick populations to thrive and push into new regions across Ontario and beyond.
What was once considered a cottage-country problem has quietly crept into suburban parks, ravines, and well-tended backyards.
When and Where to Check
The updated health unit guidance is clear: tick checks should follow any outdoor activity, not just wilderness adventures. That includes:
- Gardening or doing yard work
- Walking the dog in a local park
- Kids playing in grassy areas
- Picking berries or mushrooms in wooded areas
Ticks prefer tall grass, leaf litter, and brushy edges — but they can also be found in maintained lawns and garden beds.
How to Do a Proper Tick Check
A thorough tick check covers the whole body, with extra attention to spots ticks love to hide: behind the knees, in the groin, under the arms, in the belly button, around the ears, and through the scalp.
If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting, crushing, or applying petroleum jelly — these can make things worse and increase infection risk.
After removal, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol and note the date. Watch for symptoms in the weeks following: a bull's-eye rash, fever, or flu-like aches are all reasons to call your doctor right away.
Submit Ticks for Testing
Many Ontario public health units accept tick submissions for species identification and Lyme disease testing. You can drop off a tick in a sealed container or zip-lock bag, or submit a photo through provincial reporting tools. Knowing whether a blacklegged tick tested positive for Lyme bacteria helps physicians make faster treatment decisions — and helps public health map where populations are establishing.
Build the Habit Now
Canada's tick problem is a growing public health concern, and awareness is the best first line of defence. Incorporating a two-minute tick check into your post-outdoor routine — for every family member, including pets — is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do this spring and summer.
Check yourself. Check your kids. Check your dog. Every time.
Source: CBC News
