Tick season springs up early due to mild winter weather

Ottawa's tick population may get ahead start this spring due to anunseasonably warm winter,researchers say.

Manisha Kulkarni, an associate professor in the school of epidemiology and public health at the University of Ottawa, saidwarmer weather could be the cause of a denser tick population in the region this year.

"Many more ticks were able to find a host and there may be many more reproducing into the next stage," Kulkarni said.

That means the risk of encountering the arachnidsis higher.

Where to find ticks

Deer ticks, otherwise known as blacklegged ticks, are present in the Ottawa areaandacross eastern Ontario,according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).

Some deer ticks carry the bacteria that can causeLyme disease, and OPH has foundan increase inthe number of cases of Lyme disease reportedin the Ottawaareaover time.

In sampling roughly 30 different sites over the past few years, Kulkarni saidthe most established tick populations are in western areas of the city, such asthe Greenbelt, and some areas around the Ottawa River.

"We also do see tick populations and other kinds of suburban and rural areas of the city, including in the south and the east," Kulkarni said.

Ticks hide out in tall grass and othervegetation, and Kulkarni suggestedstaying on trails while hiking the wider the better to avoid brushing up with the arachnids.

What is 'tick dragging'?

Oneway of monitoring the region'stick population and the potential diseases they may carry is called"tick dragging," said Dr. Linna Li, CEO and medical officer of healthfor Leeds, Greenville andLanark District Health Unit.

Li saidher team does tick draggingregularly by collecting samples inhigh risk areas.

"We go out in suits that protect us and then we take a sheet of fabric behind us and then try to capture as many ticks as we can on that sheet of fabric," Li said.

The ticks are then submitted for testing to see what type they areand if they carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease.

Not all tick bites cause health risks

"One of the things we always tell people is, look at whether the tick is flat or fat," Li said.

If the tickdoesn't look like it'sengorged, then it's less likely to have been attached to the skin for 24 hours, she said. Therisk of getting Lyme disease increases with the length of time thetick is attached, according to OPH.

Li saidit's important to remove anyticksas soon as possible by using tweezersor pliers.

Symptoms may includefever, fatigue, and body aches. Anothertypical sign isa rash that lookslike a bullseyeand appearsat the site of the tick bite.

For prevention, Lisuggestedwearing long pants, long sleevesand high socks if walking in tall grass, doing yard work, hikingor hunting.