Ticks

Ticks are little arachnids that are very common in Manitoba from April to November (though they're usually the most active from May-July).

Ticks will attach themselves to you and your pets and will begin biting into your skin to eat your blood. They are most common in bushes and trees. They are usually harmless and mostly just annoying but they can give you some illnesses and diseases in rare cases (such as Lyme Disease). For a list of diseases that ticks carry, click here.

To avoid ticks you should:

• Avoid grassy, bushy, or wooded areas
• Walk in the middle of trails if you can
• Use insect repellant
• Wear long clothes (such as long-sleeve shirts and pants)
• Check yourself for ticks after being outside
• Take a shower after being outside
• Mow your lawn frequently
• Often check your pets (especially dogs)

*For more tips on how to avoid ticks click here

To remove a tick:

1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
2. Pull up with a steady motion (don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal).
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by
   • Putting it in alcohol,
   • Placing it in a sealed bag/container,
   • Wrapping it tightly in tape, or
   • Flushing it down the toilet.

*To see a video click here

For any other information you may want to know about ticks, click here