Summer Is Here, and So Are Ticks
Warmer weather means more time outdoors whether you are hiking local trails, gardening in your backyard, or enjoying summer adventures around Ancaster and the greater Hamilton area. But summer is also when tick activity peaks across Ontario.
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, can carry Lyme disease and are found in growing numbers across southern Ontario, including parts of Hamilton. And while the risk of Lyme disease is still considered low, prevention matters because tick bites can have serious consequences — and these ticks are being found in more and more areas.
This blog gives practical tick bite prevention tips to help you stay safe while enjoying the outdoors. In most cases, an infected tick must be attached for 24 hours or more to transmit Lyme disease, and their bites are usually painless. Always check for ticks after being outdoors: it’s the best way to reduce your risk of infection and avoid possible long term effects.
What Is — and Is Not — a Tick
Ticks are not insects — they are arachnids with eight legs, no antennae, and a flat, teardrop-shaped body. They do not fly or jump, but they latch on when you brush past grass or shrubs.
Think you saw a tick? Use this simple guide to tell ticks apart from other bugs like beetles or small spiders.
Not Every Tick Carries Lyme Disease
Only blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) can spread Lyme disease. These ticks can be very small — especially the nymphs, which are no bigger than a pinhead.
Here is how to tell the difference:
- Blacklegged Tick: eight legs, dark brown body, can carry Lyme disease
- American Dog Tick: larger, patterned back, does not carry Lyme disease
Want to be sure? Take a photo and upload it to Hamilton Public Health’s eTick platform for identification.
Where to Find Ticks in Hamilton
Blacklegged ticks do not live in short grass or paved areas. Instead, they thrive in bushy, wooded, and tall grassy areas such as hiking trails, forest edges, and overgrown backyards.
In Hamilton, most of the city is now considered a tick risk area with the exception of some eastern parts of Stoney Creek and Glanbrook. According to Public Health Ontario, “All tick surveillance indicators suggest the range of blacklegged ticks is expanding in southern Ontario and is expected to continue expanding.”
Experts believe this is happening because of climate change, changes in bird migration patterns, and land development.
Although the risk of Lyme disease remains relatively low, prevention is important because the consequences can be serious and last a lifetime. Learn more from Hamilton Public Health.
Simple tick bite prevention tips for your summer plans
Whether you are heading out for a nature walk, doing yard work, or sending your kids to summer camp, here are some essential tick bite prevention tips:
- Wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily
- Tuck your pants into your socks in wooded or grassy areas
- Use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin
- Stay on marked trails and avoid dense underbrush or leaf litter
- Shower within two hours of being outdoors to wash off unattached ticks
- Do full-body tick checks, especially behind knees, underarms, around the ears, and on the scalp
- Keep your yard tidy by trimming tall grass and removing brush
- Protect your pets with vet-approved tick preventives
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, “the best way to protect yourself from Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites.”. For additional information on preventing Lyme Disease, refer to this Government of Canada website.
What Happens if You Find a Tick?
If you find a tick attached, do not panic. Here is what you can do:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin
- Pull it straight out with steady pressure. Do not twist or jerk
- Clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol
- Save the tick in a sealed bag or container
- Submit a photo to eTick for identification. Find more information here.
If the tick was attached for 24 hours or more or looks engorged, check in with your doctor. You may need a preventive dose of antibiotics.
If Work Takes You Outside
If you work outdoors in landscaping, construction, delivery, or parks and recreation, you may be at higher risk of encountering ticks. In addition to Lyme disease, ticks can also spread diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus, especially in spring, summer, and fall when they are most active.
Where ticks are found:
- Natural wooded areas
- Shrubs, leaf litter, tall grass, or wood piles
- Near animals like rodents, birds, or deer
- In temperatures of 4°C and higher
To reduce your risk of a tick bite at work, follow these safety measures:
- Avoid working in tick-heavy areas when possible
- Apply insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin on skin and clothing (follow label directions)
- Wear permethrin-treated workwear when available
- Do a full-body tick check after your shift, focusing on feet, armpits, knees, elbows, hairline, ears, waist, and groin
- Shower or bathe after working outside to help find and remove ticks
- Dry your work clothes on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any ticks (if damp, dry longer)
- Wash work clothes in hot water, as ticks can survive cold or warm cycles
Protective clothing tips:
- Tie back long hair
- Wear light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and pants
- Tuck shirts into pants and pull socks over pant legs
- Wear closed-toe shoes
If you find a tick, remove it right away using fine-tipped tweezers and report it to your employer. Download the official CCOHS tick safety infographic.
Be Tick Smart and Stay Safe this Summer
Ticks may be small, but their impact can be big. With awareness, preparation, and some simple tick bite prevention tips, you can keep yourself, your family, and your coworkers safe this season.
The tick population continues to grow in Ancaster and the greater Hamilton area, so whether it’s hiking, gardening, playing, or working, always take a few moments to check for ticks. Prevention is simple and can protect you and your loved ones from a serious health issue.
If you have concerns about tick exposure or need support recovering from outdoor-related strains or injuries, the team at Alliance Chiropractic is here to help keep you healthy, active, and informed all summer long.
Contact us if you have questions regarding this blog or any other health or wellness concern.
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Information for this blog was sourced from: Government of Canada, Hamilton Public Health, CCOHS, and eTick.