Ticks Coming To Eastern Canada, Experts Say

by Jennifer Smith June 08, 2017

Have you seen black-legged ticks in your area? If you haven't, experts say you will soon.

It's estimated that ticks will surround Eastern Canada in the next 20 years, approaching Nova Scotia by 2040 and as far as Newfoundland by 2070. What's to blame for this change - deer? No, climate change.

Six counties in Nova Scotia are at high-risk for ticks and Lyme Disease cases.

Elaine Holmes, director of communicable disease prevention and control, said black-legged ticks are "part of our ecology," because of the suitable habitat and number of hosts such as deer.

Ticks are most active in late spring - early summer. While deer do tend to carry ticks, global warming contributes to the rise in ticks across Canada. When temperatures change from cold to hot, ticks come out of the woodwork and feed on humans, pets and livestock in grassy areas and woodlands. The warm weather allows for tick reproduction and the spread of ticks. Once they latch-on to a warm-blooded mammal, such as a deer, ticks and deer travel together to lawns and in gardens.

The quickest deer management and tick prevention solutions for homeowners to avoid contact with deer and ticks is to consider deer fence installation on properties; apply insect and tick repellents on the skin, especially around the ankles, while hiking, camping and walking; and plant deer-resistant plants in yards (daffodils, lavender, mint) to keep deer away from homes.