Experts say Ontario is experiencing an increase in tick populations, and one local resident is raising awareness in hopes of encouraging better prevention practices.
A recent Reddit post shared by a concerned Ontarian highlights the troubling rise of ticks in the region, pointing to the growing danger they pose to both humans and animals.
“I just wanted to raise some awareness — the tick situation around here seems to be getting worse every year,” they said in the post.
The author recounts finding two adult male dog ticks on themselves and another on their cat after going for a walk. Despite being cautious by sticking to open paths and avoiding tall grass, the ticks still seem to have found their way to their home.
“My skin is crawling just writing this,” they added.
Ticks are not new to Ontario, but the population appears to be increasing recently, according to Toronto Public Health.
The blacklegged tick is the most popular species of the insect found in the region, and is the only type of tick that can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease, the agency said online. While contracting illnesses transmitted by ticks in Toronto is believed to be unlikely, the risk of exposure happens to be the highest in wooded, bushy areas.
Resting among the tips of long grasses and shrubs, the flightless insect waits for a host (which could be a person, animal or bird) to cling onto.
“If a person brushes the spot where a tick is waiting, it quickly climbs aboard. It then finds a suitable place to bite,” Toronto Public Health explained on its website.
“Ticks can attach to any part of the human body but, if found, may be in hard-to-see areas such as the armpits, groin and scalp.”
WHAT’S THE RISK OF TICKS TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS?
University Health Network physician and expert in infectious diseases, Dr. Isaac Bogoch, attributes the rise in tick populations to the shorter and less cold winters.
He says that while tick bites can pose a dangerous threat, it’s more likely that they won’t actually bite. But staying vigilant is key to avoiding issues.
“If you get a tick bite, you can obviously remove the tick and you can monitor for possible symptoms of Lyme,” Bogoch says.
“In some places too, you can even get what’s called prophylaxis for Lyme… If the tick hasn’t been on someone’s body for very long and it’s removed, you can go and get a tablet of an antibiotic called doxycycline at pharmacies without even a doctor’s prescription.”
Symptoms of Lyme disease in humans can range from fatigue, fever, and headaches to more severe complications, including joint pain and neurological issues.
Bogoch also assures that focusing on prevention is the best way to avoid Lyme altogether.
“It’s not hard to diagnose. It’s not hard to treat. And it’s not hard to prevent,” he says.
Bogoch’s tips to prevent the illness include:
- Recognize where ticks reside, which is usually in wooded areas or in tall grass.
- Wear long pants, which is helpful to avoid tick contact with your skin.
- Use insect repellents to reduce tick bites.
- When coming from areas that may have ticks, such as places with tall grasses or forested areas, do a tick check by looking at your body and skin. Sometimes it’s even helpful to have someone look at body parts that you might not be able to see yourself, such as the back of your legs.
- Sweep away or remove a tick if it’s attached.
Ticks don’t just pose a threat to humans, they can be equally harmful to pets. Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury, a relief veterinarian and a member of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Executive Committee says that animals can get a serious inflammatory infection from a bite, and encourages owners to bring the removed tick into a clinic for further examination.
“Most of the clinics that I work with want clients to bring in the tick if they’ve removed it off their pet so that they can be aware of what’s happening in the area,” Brown-Bury explained to Now Toronto.
“If the tick looks like it’s had a really good meal, like it’s really engorged, then we’re going to be more worried that it was biting that pet long enough to have passed on a disease.”
Additionally, dogs are at greater risk of infection than cats, according to data from Tick Talk, where in Southern Ontario, 84 per cent of ticks were found on dogs compared to 16 per cent on cats.
Brown-Bury also pointed to the weather as a reason for the tick population to be suddenly increasing.
“Ticks are active when it’s above four degrees, and because of climate change that is sometimes happening earlier in the year,” she said.
For pet owners in Southern Ontario, Dr. Brown-Bury recommends using tick preventatives such as booties, collars, and topical treatments. She also warns them to be mindful on walks, and to perform regular tick checks and quick removal of any bugs found on pets.
