Study examines increase in tick numbers

SASKATOON – While warm temperatures got off to a slow start, the tick population appears to be thriving in Saskatoon.

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are trying to find out why there’s an increase and they want help from the public.

Ticks can be found along trails and pathways ready to pounce on any unsuspecting human or animal.

Provincial Entomologist Phil Curry says 30 years ago ticks didn’t even exist in the city.

“We’ve certainly seen more ticks in the Saskatoon area and further north,” he said.

For the past ten years U of S Professor Dr. Neil Chilton has been studying tick movements.

“We actively go out and search for the ticks and we also ask the public and veterinary practitioners to actually send us specimens so we actually plot where they occur,” said Chilton.

The most common type of tick in Saskatoon is the American Dog Tick.

“We’re certainly interested in trying to work out where the ticks have come from it’s a little bit harder to work out why they might have spread over say the last 40 or 50 years,” said Chilton.

The study became all the more important in the fall of 2011 when the very first case of Lyme disease was recorded in Saskatchewan.

Thankfully the black legged tick which can carry the disease is fairly uncommon here.

“Probably in an average year when we may get a thousand to two thousand ticks being given to us by the public we might get one or two,” said Chilton.

“We say the risk of getting Lyme disease is low but not zero,” said Curry.

Lyme disease begins with a rash, migraines and fever but if left untreated it can affect major organ systems.

Along with the usual repellents there are some measures you can take to avoid ticks.

“If you’re hiking through some of these game trails you can actually wear long pants closed shoes or boots and even tuck your pant legs into your socks,” said Curry.

If you do encounter a tick you should remove it with tweezers and be sure to send it in to Dr. Chilton – dead or alive. Residents can mail ticks to the Biology Department, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place Saskatoon.