Where do ticks live?

Where blacklegged ticks live

Blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) live in woodlands, tall grasses and bushes.

They are most commonly found in areas along the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Yes … that means they can be found right here in the Aurora area!

Know the risk

Not all blacklegged ticks carry Lyme disease. A tick must be infected by the bacteria causing Lyme disease in order to pass it on to you.

While the probability is low, it’s possible to encounter an infected tick almost anywhere in Ontario

Ticks are most active in the summer months, but can be found at any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing.

Where infected ticks are found

Infected ticks are commonly found in these areas:

• Long Point Provincial Park on the northwest shore of Lake Erie
• Turkey Point Provincial Park on the northwest shore of Lake Erie
• Rondeau Provincial Park on the north shore of Lake Erie
• Point Pelee National Park on north shore of Lake Erie
• Pinery Provincial Park on the southeast shore of Lake Huron
• Rouge Valley/Rouge Park on east side of Greater Toronto Area
• Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area on northeast shore of Lake Ontario
• Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area on the Niagara Peninsula

Infected ticks are becoming more common in the Rainy River area of northwestern Ontario.

Blacklegged ticks spread to new areas of the province because of climate change and warmer winter temperatures. They can also spread by traveling on birds and deer.

Cover up

Your clothing gives you an important layer of protection. Make sure to wear:

• light-coloured clothing so you can spot ticks and remove them before they bite
• a long-sleeved shirt or jacket tucked into long pants
  • tuck the pants into your socks for extra protection
• socks and closed footwear

Use insect repellent

Use an insect repellent, or bug spray, containing DEET or Icaridin on clothes and exposed skin. Always read the label for directions on how to use it.

Double-check yourself

When you go to an area where blacklegged ticks live, check – and recheck – yourself by:

• paying close attention to areas such as your scalp, ankles, armpits, groin, naval and behind your ears and knees

• using a mirror to check the back of your body or having someone else check for you

When you’ve double-checked yourself, don’t forget to do the same for children in your care.

Wash and dry

After an outdoor activity, you can:

• put your clothes into a dryer on high heat for at least 60 minutes to kill any possible ticks
• take a shower as soon as you can to wash off a tick that may not be attached through a bite

Check your pets

Talk with your veterinarian about protecting your pets from ticks.

Regularly check pets that spend time outdoors. Ticks may attach to them and be carried indoors, putting you and your family at risk of being bitten.

If you live or work in a woodland area

You can lower chances of contact with – and bites from – blacklegged ticks by:

• keeping grass mowed short
• trimming bushes and tree branches to let in sunlight (ticks avoid hot, dry locations)
• creating a border of gravel or woodchips one metre or wider around your yard if you’re next to a wooded area, or one with tall grasses
• removing leaf litter, brush and weeds at the edge of the lawn and from stone walls and wood piles
• moving children’s swing sets, playground equipment and sandboxes away from wooded areas
  • consider placing equipment on a woodchip or mulch foundation

How to remove a tick

Removing a tick is the same for humans and animals. Follow these steps to remove ticks:

1. If the tick is attached to you, use fine-tipped tweezers or tick removal tool to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Do not use your fingers.
2. Pull the tick straight out, gently but firmly making sure to remove the entire tick (including the head). Don’t squeeze it – avoid crushing the tick’s body.
3. After removing the tick, place it in a secure container, such as a screw-top bottle used for medication.
4. Give the tick to your health care professional or local health unit.
5. Thoroughly clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol and/or soap and water.

How not to remove a tick

Always remove attached ticks with tweezers. Be sure not to:

• burn the tick
• paint the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) to detach it from your skin.

This could cause Lyme bacteria to pass through your skin and into your bloodstream.

Tick testing

You can take the tick – in its secure container – to your doctor, health care professional or local public health unit. If appropriate, they will send it to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory for identification.

By bringing a tick in for identification, you help us keep track of tick populations, growth and movement.

If you’re a healthcare provider

Testing ticks should not be used to diagnose Lyme disease. Diagnosis should be based on your clinical judgement.

Lyme disease symptoms

Common symptoms include:

• fever
• headache
• muscle and joint pain
• spasms, numbness or tingling
• facial paralysis
• fatigue
• swollen glands
• expanding skin rash

People with Lyme disease often see symptoms within 1-2 weeks. But symptoms can appear as early as 3 to 30 days after a bite from an infected blacklegged tick.

If you think you have Lyme disease

See your doctor or a healthcare professional right away, whether you have symptoms, or are just feeling unwell in the weeks following a tick bite.

You can:

• find a doctor or healthcare professional
• find the nearest public health unit
• call Telehealth Ontario, a free service connecting you to registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day
  • 1-866-797-0000 (toll free)
  • 1-866-797-0007 (teletypewriter)

Early treatment

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Symptoms from untreated Lyme disease can last years and include recurring arthritis and neurological problems, numbness, paralysis and, in very rare cases, death.