14-05-2025
Tick numbers on the rise in the Maritimes following mild winter: expert
A warmer, snow-covered winter may be to blame for the spike in ticks being spotted across Maritime trails this spring, according to a Mount Allison University biology professor.
'It was a good winter for ticks, which is actually bad news for us,' said Vett Lloyd. 'We did get cold spells but when we had the cold spells, in norther N.S. areas, there was snow on the ground that insulated the ticks, and in the south the ticks were still insulated by being in the ground.'
'When the winters were harsher, we would lose more ticks over the winter so that kept the population down. An adult female can lay 2,000 to 3,000 eggs in the fall, and if those eggs don't die off, and if the baby ticks don't die, that makes for a lot of ticks in the spring.'
Kerry Copeland and her dog Beau often use the trails near their home or hike in the woods. However, those walks can come with a price.
'Over the last couple years, you definitely see more ticks on the animals,' said Copeland. 'Every walk you come back and you find a tick on them, which can be really hard because their fur is dark. Sometimes it's not until later in the day that you see a little tick on them.'
Lloyd said the abundance of ticks also raises the risk of disease.
'They move pathogens, disease causing microbe, from one wild animal to another wild animal,' explained Lloyd. 'We're not used to those diseases, and in addition to Lyme disease, we've now got Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis.'
Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis is a bacterium that gets into the blood cells and kills it, according to Lloyd.
'Some people can't fight it off, so you crash really quickly. If you're lucky, you end up in the ER. It used to be rare, and it's getting a lot less rare,' Lloyd said.
Pets, especially dogs, are particularly vulnerable, however, Lloyd said there are effective preventative measures available.
'So, there's a vaccine for Lyme disease for your dog. There are also really good tick and flea medications that will repel the ticks, so your dogs are reasonably well protected which is good because they're very much at risk. They're furry, they're close to the ground. If anyone's going to find a tick, it's your dog.'
Currently, there is no vaccine for humans.
'The good thing about the vaccine is it would protect the dog somewhat, but it doesn't protect us and so I'm worried about his health and my health,' said Copeland.
Lloyd said tick vaccines for humans are in development, but not on the market yet. In the meantime, Lloyd suggests carrying bug spray and wearing shoes and apparel to protect against ticks, and to look for ticks on your body when returning home.
