Ticks set to emerge in Saskatchewan

As spring arrives in Saskatchewan — sort of — people are being reminded to watch for ticks.

The majority of ticks found in Saskatchewan are American dog ticks, which do not transmit Lyme disease to people. Blacklegged ticks, which can cause Lyme disease, are rare in the province, but they can be introduced by migratory birds in early spring and remain active throughout fall.

(Government of Saskatchewan/Submitted)

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, 969 ticks were identified in Saskatchewan in 2021 and only 15 were blacklegged ticks. Nine of those were tested and none had the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

“People should be vigilant and check for ticks on themselves, their children and their pets after being outside,” Saskatchewan chief deputy medical health officer Dr. Julie Kryzanowski said in a media release. “Taking precautions against ticks is the best way to reduce the risk of a tick bite.”

To prevent bites, the Ministry of Health said people should:

• Wear light-coloured clothes so ticks can be easily seen;
• Wear pants, long-sleeved shirts, and shoes that do not expose bare feet;
• Pull socks over pant legs to prevent ticks from crawling up a person’s legs;
• Use insect repellents that contain DEET or Icaridin. Apply repellent to clothes as well as skin; and,
• Shower or bathe as soon as possible after being outside to wash off loose ticks and inspect for attached ticks.

If  a tick attaches itself to a person or a pet, the ministry said residents should:

• Carefully remove it with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick’s mouthparts as close to the skin as possible;
• Pull slowly upward and out with firm, steady pressure;
• Be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body after removal;
• Do not put Vaseline, gasoline, or other harmful substances on an attached tick;
• Submit photos of the tick at www.etick.ca, and keep ticks in a secure container until the person receives the identification results. Ticks can be euthanized by placing them in a bag and storing it in the freezer 24 hours.

eTick administrators may ask for ticks to be submitted by mail for quality control purposes or if the tick species is one of medical concern.