This spring, it’s more important than ever to be tick aware.
Why? Health Canada says the population of ticks that spread disease in Canada is increasing due to warming temperatures.
Many species of ticks can make us sick but the biggest worry is the blacklegged tick, which transmits Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a serious illness that causes long-term health problems in people and pets.
Provincial public health units reported 17,080 human cases of Lyme disease in Canada between 2009 and 2022. The number of cases has grown significantly year over year and is likely underreported.
Health Canada monitors regions for Lyme disease by postal code. If you live in one of these high-risk areas, act now to reduce ticks on your property.
How can I get rid of ticks on my property?
Ticks thrive in rural, suburban and even urban environments. Wherever you live, the tick experts at Pest HQ suggest you do the following:
- Reduce tick habitat around your home.
- Control rodents. Ticks get infected with bacteria that causes Lyme disease when they feed on infected mice. Make your yard less hospitable to rodents. Use snap traps and live traps to reduce rodent populations.
- Deter wild animals, which carry ticks onto the property. Install fencing and eliminate the food and water that attracts them to your yard.
- Some insecticides are approved to control specific tick species. Apply insecticides where ticks live, like leaf litter and yard edges where lawn and woodland meet. ALWAYS read and follow label instructions.
- Protect yourself and pets from ticks when spending time outdoors.
More tick questions? Contact Pest HQ.
