Ticks still active in Saskatchewan in fall months

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health is reminding people to be on the lookout for ticks this fall.

According to a release, blacklegged ticks are still active in tall grass, brush or wooded areas in the fall. In Saskatchewan, any ticks found in the autumn are likely to be blacklegged ticks, which can cause Lyme disease.

“It’s important to stay vigilant against ticks when outdoors, even though summer is over,” Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, the province’s deputy chief medical health officer, said in the release.

“The risk for contracting Lyme disease in Saskatchewan is low, but not zero. Remember to protect yourself, your family and your pets against ticks.”

The ministry reminded people to: Wear light-coloured clothes so ticks can be seen easily; wear pants, long-sleeved shirts and shoes that do not expose their feet; pull socks over pant legs to prevent ticks from crawling up their legs; use insect repellents that contain DEET or Icaridin and apply repellent to clothes as well as skin; shower or bathe as soon as possible after being outside to wash off loose ticks; and, do full body tick checks after being outside.

If someone finds a tick attached to their skin or on their pet: Carefully remove it with fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the mouth parts of the tick as close to the skin as possible; pull slowly upward and out with a firm steady pressure; be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body after removal as it may contain infectious fluids; do not put Vaseline, gasoline or other noxious substances on an attached tick that may cause it to regurgitate; submit photos of the tick using eTick; and, hang onto the tick in case it is requested for further testing.

Ticks can be euthanized by placing it in a bag and storing it in the freezer for 24 hours.

Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 of this year, eTick received 1,063 valid tick submissions. Of these, 11 were blacklegged ticks.

Most ticks found in Saskatchewan are American dog ticks, which don’t transmit Lyme disease to people.