The summer season has arrived and people couldn’t be happier to spend time outdoors in their backyards, at cottages and campgrounds, and exploring the different nature trails in the Ottawa and surrounding areas. While the fun and games are a welcomed break from the long winter season, it also brings forth the seasonal challenge of ticks, and the awareness of the dangers they pose. The peak season for ticks spread from spring and summer, right into fall, and as they thrive in shaded and humid environments, they can be mostly found in wooded, shrubby, long-grassed, and leaf-littered areas. 

Recently, researchers have made it aware that along with more and more places across Canada, Ottawa has a high population of ticks residing in recreational trails, wooded areas, and forests; It has also been found that one in three ticks in the Ottawa area carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, and underscore the influx in cases diagnosed within the city. With these alarming statistics, it has become increasingly important to be aware of how to protect yourself and your family, and what to do in case of a suspected tick bite. Here are some measures to help you navigate this year’s tick-season to ensure the health and wellness of your family while still enjoying your time outdoors. 

 

Minimize Exposure

One of the best ways to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites altogether, but with the summer months upon us and the beautiful green space Ottawa boasts, avoiding the outdoors is not exactly a desired solution. Instead, minimize your chance of exposure when you’re in wooded and bushy areas by walking on the middle of the path, wearing insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, as well as wearing long pants and sleeves to keep ticks from biting. In addition, by wearing lighter colours it will be easier to spot any ticks that may be trying to latch on, allowing you to remove them before any harm is done. 

 

Daily Tick Checks

If it so happens that you receive a tick bite, it is important to know that the longer they are on, the higher the chance the tick has of transmitting Lyme disease. If you spend a good amount of time outdoors, it is important to conduct daily “Tick Checks”. Ticks can be as big as a pencil eraser and as small as a pin’s head, making them tricky to locate at times; Be sure to examine your whole body carefully once you are indoors, help your kids to check, and get an extra set of eyes for yourself as an extra precaution. 

 

Where Do Ticks Bite

As ticks prefer warm and moist areas of the body, they generally migrate towards your groin, armpits, behind the ears, or in your hair once they are on your body. When they bite, they can remain attached to your body for a period of up to 10 days, drawing blood until the tick becomes engorged and can detach itself and fall off.

 

If You Find A Tick.

Though not all ticks that you find on your body carry Lyme disease, and not all ticks will have bitten you, it is important to know the usual signs of early Lyme Disease. The most common is the expanding, red, “bullseye” rash that can occur after a bite. Other symptoms include persistent fever, muscle aches, chills and headaches. If you suspect a tick bite be sure to see your physician, especially between the peak season of June, July, and August.

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