It's Lyme Awareness Month

by Jennifer Smith May 01, 2017

Lyme Disease Awareness Month is an observance month in May that raises funds for research of Lyme, educational opportunities and organized events. Activists proclaim May to be Lyme Month since May is the heart of tick season. With an estimated 40 species of deer ticks in Canada, it is important that gardeners and farmers in Canada get the facts about ticks.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is a bacterial disease that is caused by a latched-on tick bite. When white-tail deer enter into woods, lawns or gardens, ticks follow.

Where are ticks found?

Ticks begin to appear in the warmer months of the year beginning in March-May. Ticks like to hide under leaves, seeking warmth, in the garden, or in the woods on trails. They do not fly or jump; but they do climb from the ground up.

For this reason, outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to wear [bright] long-sleeve clothing while hiking, spray tick repellents along their ankles and perform thorough tick-checks after long periods of outdoor activity.

The number of reported Lyme Disease cases in Canada is on the rise; beginning at 144 cases in 2009 and jumping to 917 cases in 2015.

Black-legged ticks are most commonly found in these Canadian regions:

Southern British Columbia
Southeastern and South-central Manitoba
Southern Quebec
Southern, Eastern and Western Ontario
Parts of Nova Scotia
Southern New Brunswick and Grand Manan Island

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Most individuals will experience a fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and swollen glands – often confused with signs of the flu. Lyme Disease can often be misdiagnosed for this reason.

Note For Gardeners

Because deer are the favored hosts of ticks in North America, DeerbustersCanada.ca suggests that homeowners install a deer fence around their yard to keep deer away from yards. Not only will deer fencing protect crops from deer damage, but it is proven to reduce the risk of Lyme Disease by 97%!

Get Involved This #LymeDiseaseAwareness Month

Join a workshop or presentation to learn about Lyme Disease prevention strategies.
Share stories about Lyme Disease testing and health after the tick bite.
Join the conversation on Twitter; and follow DeerbustersCanada: @DeerbustersCAN. Use hashtags #Lyme, #LymeDisease ##LymeAwarenessMonth.