Be on the lookout for ticks this summer

After weeks of being cooped up indoors due to COVID-19, many Canadians are making plans to enjoy the summer outdoors. With tick season running from now until October, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is urging people to take precautions on trails and in forests against little freeloaders. Blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) can carry various bacterial diseases that are harmful to humans. Lyme disease, for example, is an infectious disease spread by blacklegged tick bites.

Reports of Lyme-carrying ticks are spreading in Canada. While blacklegged ticks are becoming more common in southern BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, they are not very common in Saskatchewan. However, the American dog tick, which does not transmit lyme disease, is common in the province. They are also known as wood ticks. Redbrown in appearance, dog ticks hide in the shade, in wooded areas and in long grasses, and can be carried from place to place by migratory birds.

A Saskatchewan member of the NCC says people shouldn’t be afraid of going outdoors and that spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental well-being. At the same time, Sarah Ludlow recommends that people who live, work or visit these areas should take steps to minimize the risk of exposure from tick bites.

“Wear bug repellant containing permethrin, long sleeves, light-coloured clothing, tuck everything in (including your pants into your socks), stay in the middle of trails, take a bath or shower after a hike and always check your clothes and body for ticks after a hike because they can be as small as a poppy seed,” said Ludlow, who is Conservation Coordinator – GIS locally.

NCC has prepared a question and answer sheet to help Canadians in advance of nature trips. Here are some general reminders:

- Be aware of areas where ticks live and thrive. When hiking, try to walk in the centre of the trail. If you need to take a break, sit on a rock instead of on the ground.

- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to keep your skin protected from ticks. Cover your head with a hat, tucking in any long hair, and wear high boots if you have them. Ticks are usually found close to the ground, so tucking your pants into your socks or boots may provide extra protection. You should also make sure there aren’t any gaps in your clothing that ticks could get into. Wearing light-coloured clothing can help you see ticks more easily and give you time to brush them off before they become attached to your skin.

- After spending time outdoors, check your body, gear and pets for ticks before coming indoors.

- Tick bites can easily go undetected. The first sign of a black-legged tick bite is you may see is a black lump. A more serious one is a rash near the site that may look like a bull’seye target. Infected people may also develop flu-like symptoms. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, and early treatment almost always results in full recovery.

- To determine which tick you may have come in contact with, people are encouraged to take a photo and upload to etick. It is an online program which helps monitor ticks and inform about their spread. Confirmation will be provided within 24 to 48 hours of what kind of tick it is.

Tick removal and preparation: Dos and don’ts

• Using tweezers, gently grasp the tick’s head and mouth parts as close to your skin as possible.

• Slowly pull the tick straight out. Do not jerk or twist it.

• Try not to squash it, as this will release bacteria from inside the tick.

• Do not apply matches, cigarettes or petroleum jellies to the tick as these may cause an infected tick to release bacteria into the wound.

Submit your black-legged tick to be tested for Lyme disease

The Government of Canada encourages people to submit their ticks to a public health laboratory for testing, if possible. To learn more, visit the Canada Public Health Agency. To collect a tick for testing: • Save the tick in a clean, empty pill bottle or double ziplock bag. Do not add any ventilation holes. You can put more than one tick in the container if they are found on the same person or in the same general area in the environment.

• Add a small piece of tissue, lightly moistened with water, to keep the tick(s) alive.

• Call ahead to the health office or veterinarian to submit your tick.

Reminder: Please check your first aid kits to ensure they contain the materials listed above for tick removal and storage.