Ticks and Tick-borne diseases

Tick-borne diseases may cause potentially serious infections if you’re bitten by an infected black-legged tick (also called a deer tick).

Not all black-legged ticks carry the infectious agents that cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus, and/or Lyme disease, and not everyone who is bitten by an infected tick will develop signs and symptoms of these diseases.

What black-legged ticks look like

Black-legged ticks are small and hard to see. They attach themselves to humans and animals and feed on their blood. They can range in size depending on how long they have been feeding.

You can find out if it’s a black-legged tick by:

• submitting a photo of the tick to etick.ca  

• As of summer 2020, Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) no longer accepts ticks for lab testing.

  
  

  Lyme Disease is present in our catchment area and you should visit a health care provider within 72 hours of removing the tick, if it was attached for more than 24 hours.

  
  

Black-legged (deer) tick

Colour

Dark brown to black, females have an orange/red back

Size

Adults are 3-5mm long

Lyme

Must be attached to a human for a minimum of 24-36 hours before Lyme disease can be transmitted

Dog (wood) tick

Colour

Red-brown with white markings on back; elongated body

Size

Adults are 4-6mm long

Lyme

Not known to transmit Lyme disease

To help prevent tick bites, do the following:

• Wear light coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot. 

• Keep covered with long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. 

• Wear closed footwear, socks, and tuck your pants into your socks. 

• Use a tick repellant that has “DEET” (follow the manufacturer’s directions). 

• Put a tick and flea collar on your pets, and check them for ticks periodically. 

• Search your body well for ticks after being in grass or bushy areas. Pay special attention to groin, scalp, and armpits. Use a mirror to check your back. 

To help discourage ticks from being on your property, do the following:

• Mow the lawn regularly. 

• Remove leaf litter, brush and weeds. 

• Keep tree branches and shrubs trimmed to let in more sunlight. 

• Move children’s swing sets and sandboxes away from the wooded or bushy edges of a play area.  Consider placing swing sets and sandboxes on a woodchip or mulch foundation. 

• Ticks often attach themselves to rodents, deer and birds. Keep rodents away by sealing stone walls and small openings around the yard. Use plants that do not attract deer or consider fencing to keep deer out of the yard. If you have a bird feeder keep it away from the house.

  
  

Fast removal of ticks will help to prevent infection:

• Grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible.

• Pull it straight out, gently but firmly.

• Don’t squeeze the tick.

• Don’t put anything on the tick or try to burn it off.

• Wash the area with soap and water once removed.

If you think you have found a black-legged tick on yourself, a family member, or a friend and would like to identify it, visit etick.ca​

If the black-legged tick was attached for more than 24 hours, and from Kenora, Rainy River, or the areas surrounding these municipalities, consider visiting a health care provider within 72 hours of removing the tick.

For more information about Black-legged ticks which may carry anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus and/or Lyme disease please visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/tick-bornediseases