Museum curator speaks on tick situation
Andrew Hebda visiting Lower Truro for tick talk to help dispel misinformation
There’s a lot of information available about ticks. Not all of it is accurate.
ere’s an opportunity to get the facts on ticks when Andrew Hebda, curator of zoology at the Nova Scotia Museum, visits Lower Truro.
“I’ll be sharing information on how ticks make a living,” said Hebda. “ ere will be information on the species around here, and which ones are problematic – that’s really only the black-legged tick, from the point of view of Lyme disease.
“ ere’s a lack of basic information on ticks, and a lot of people panic about them because they don’t have the information.”
Fundy Veterinarians is hosting the presentation by Hebda at the Cobequid District Fire Hall, 3830 Highway 236, in Lower Truro, on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
Hebda will discuss how ticks attach and feed, how disease is spread, and how people can manage ticks and Lyme disease.
“In areas where black-legged ticks and Lyme disease are present, only 20 per cent carry the disease, and in some areas, there can be 40 per cent.”
He said, while the tick is a parasite on animals and people, Lyme disease is a parasite on the tick.
Hebda has been working with ticks since 1995, and often speaks at public events. is year, he has spoken about ticks to search-andrescue organizations, re brigades, veterinary organizations, garden clubs, and the general public.
“I like sharing information, so people can bring their questions and their ticks,” he added.