Tick Season in Eastern Ontario: What You Need to Know
- Small Town Productions
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
By Small Town News | A Division of Small Town Productions
As summer unfolds across Eastern Ontario, so too does the active season for blacklegged ticks, the primary carriers of Lyme disease and other emerging illnesses like anaplasmosis.
While health officials are reporting increased tick activity this year, the focus remains on awareness and prevention, not panic.
So far in 2025, there have been 186 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the region spanning from Prince Edward County to the Quebec border, including Ottawa, Belleville, Kingston, and surrounding communities.
The South East Health Unit, which covers areas like Smiths Falls, Brockville, and Prince Edward County, has recorded the highest case count in Ontario.
For more local information and updates, visit the South East Health Unit Lyme Disease page.
But health experts stress that ticks are a manageable risk, and simple precautions can go a long way in protecting yourself and your family.
“We have to assume that all ticks could potentially pass on Lyme disease,” said Dr. Trevor Arnason, Ottawa’s acting medical officer of health. “But with the right precautions, most people can continue enjoying outdoor activities safely.”
How to Protect Yourself
Whether you're hiking, walking the dog, or working in the garden, here are some key ways to reduce your risk of tick bites:
Wear long sleeves and pants. Tuck pant legs into socks to prevent ticks from crawling underneath clothing.
Use insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin on exposed skin and clothing.
Stick to the trail. Avoid tall grass and leaf litter where ticks tend to wait for hosts.
Do full-body tick checks after spending time outdoors, especially around the knees, underarms, hairline, and waistband.
Shower within two hours of coming indoors to help wash off unattached ticks.
Special Considerations for Children and Pets
Young children and pets are especially vulnerable to tick bites because they’re closer to the ground and less likely to notice a tick has attached.
🧒 For infants and kids:
Dress them in light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily.
Use child-safe insect repellents as directed (DEET is safe for children over 6 months).
Check their scalp, ears, behind knees, groin, and under arms thoroughly after outdoor play.
🐾 For pets:
Talk to your vet about monthly tick prevention medications (oral or topical).
Check pets daily after walks, especially around the ears, neck, legs, belly, and between toes.
Avoid letting pets roam through long grass or wooded areas unprotected.
What to Do If You Find a Tick
If you discover a tick attached to your skin:
1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible.
2. Pull upward slowly and steadily, avoid twisting or squeezing, which could cause the tick’s head or mouthparts to break off.
3. After removal, clean the area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or an iodine scrub.
If part of the tick stays embedded:
Don’t dig into your skin.
Try removing visible parts gently with tweezers.
A visit with your local hospital would be the best step incase of infection or potential Lyme Disease
Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or pus.
In order to accurately test for an keep track of Lyme Disease in our area residents are encouraged to seal the tick in a plastic bag or container, note the date, and contact a healthcare provider or pharmacist.
In Ontario, pharmacists are now authorized to assess tick bites and prescribe a single dose of antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease if the tick was attached for more than 24 hours.
Stay Informed with Real-Time Data
To help residents stay up to date, Public Health Ontario maintains a live dashboard tracking tick-borne illnesses across the province. The Ontario Vector-Borne Disease Tool includes data on Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, babesiosis, and West Nile virus.
Local health units also offer resources and updates:
Final Reminder
Ticks are a natural part of the environment, especially in our increasingly warm and wooded regions. But with simple, proactive habits, you can protect yourself, your family, and your pets while still enjoying the outdoors.
For more local updates, prevention tips, and tick data, visit the links above or contact your local public health unit.
📢 Spread the Info
Tick bites and Lyme disease can impact anyone from hikers and gardeners, to children and pets. Help keep your community informed by sharing this notice.
✅ Share on social media
✅ Email it to family and friends in the region
✅ Post in local Facebook groups and community pages
✅ Print a copy for your workplace, cottage, or local bulletin board
Every share could help prevent a tick bite and keep someone healthy this summer.
Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay Tick Free.
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