Could Ticks be there? Be tick aware!

Ticks have been found in almost every region of Canada.

Each tick species has a preferred geographic location and habitat where it can establish and thrive.

TICKS BY PROVINCE

Click the map below to see which ticks are present in your province/territory and learn more about the risk in your area.

Note: The figures represent the number of ticks submitted for identification in the region, not the total number of ticks actually found in that area. This data was collected through the Canadian Pet Tick Survey, 2019-2020, which was led by researchers at the University of Guelph and funded by Pet Trust.

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Could ticks be active in your area? Visit tickmaps.ca.


TICK HABITATS

COMMON TICK HABITATS INCLUDE:

TICKS CAN BE ENCOUNTERED IN:

URBAN AREAS

SUBURBAN AREAS

RURAL AREAS

DID YOU KNOW?

Dermacentor ticks, are hardy ticks that can live and thrive in drier environments, such as scrub or fringe areas and tall grasses.

Ixodes ticks prefer to live in high moisture environments, such as leaf litter and under a forest canopy.

Want to know more about where your pet can encounter ticks? Watch these videos:

Where can my pet get ticks? Is my dog or cat at risk for ticks in my own backyard?


TICK SPECIES

There are many species of ticks that can be found in Canada, several of which feed on pets and people.

Ticks found on pets and people can be divided into those that are:

  • established, meaning they live and actively reproduce in the location they are found, or
  • adventitious meaning they don’t live there but, instead, may have been dropped off a migratory bird or encountered while the pet or person was travelling and not discovered until their return.

Blacklegged ticks are of particular concern in many parts of Canada because they are rapidly expanding into new areas of the country. This ongoing expansion has resulted in an increased risk of tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease.

Examples of established and adventitious ticks in Canada include:

ESTABLISHED

Western Canada

MALE
FEMALE

WESTERN BLACKLEGGED TICK
(Ixodes pacificus)

MALE
FEMALE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOOD TICK
(Dermacentor andersoni)

Eastern Canada

MALE
FEMALE

BLACKLEGGED OR DEER TICK
(Ixodes scapularis)

MALE
FEMALE

AMERICAN DOG TICK
(Dermacentor variabilis)

MALE
FEMALE

GROUNDHOG TICK
(Ixodes cookei)

ADVENTITIOUS

MALE
FEMALE

BROWN DOG TICK
(Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

MALE
FEMALE

LONE STAR TICK
(Amblyomma americanum)

Want to learn more about the common tick species on dogs and cats in Canada?

Common tick species found on dogs and cats in Canada

Campaign Video

Could ticks be there? Be tick aware

Could ticks be active in your area today?

Have you found a tick on your pet?
Submit it now!


Contact your veterinarian for more information on tick prevention and awareness.

They can also help set up a tick control program
for your pet.