Tick Reports Are Up 38% in Canada This Year. Here Is What You Need to Know.

It is tick season across Canada, and the numbers are worse than usual. Data from eTick.ca shows that confirmed tick reports are up 38.5 per cent across Canada so far in 2026 compared to the same period last year. Reports of blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks, which are the two species that carry Lyme disease, are up 35.2 per cent.

If you spend any time outdoors this summer, whether that is hiking, gardening, or walking through an urban park, this is worth paying attention to.

Where the Surge Is Happening

Ontario is at the centre of the spike, accounting for more than half of all tick reports and nearly two-thirds of all blacklegged tick reports across the provinces between January 1 and June 23, 2026. The province has seen a 50.2 per cent increase in total tick reports over the same period last year, and a staggering 72.8 per cent jump in blacklegged tick reports specifically.

But the rise is not limited to Ontario. Reports are also up significantly in Manitoba (108.9 per cent), Alberta (71.5 per cent), Saskatchewan (53.2 per cent), Quebec (39.2 per cent), and New Brunswick (32.4 per cent).

After Ontario, the most blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks were reported in Quebec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and New Brunswick.

Experts say the trend is being driven by climate change leading to shorter and milder winters, as well as growing deer populations and migratory birds that carry ticks from the United States into new parts of Canada. There are now more than 40 different types of ticks in Canada, and they are establishing themselves in cities as well as rural areas. Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax are all now considered at-risk for tick-borne diseases.

Justin Wood, who founded Geneticks, Canada's first private tick testing lab, after his own late-stage Lyme disease diagnosis in 2015, told CTV News: "I expect this upward trend to continue every year in Canada for the foreseeable future. Climate change is the driver to this process."

Lyme Disease Cases Are Also Rising

Canada recorded approximately 7,105 cases of Lyme disease in 2025, the highest number ever recorded in the country, and a notable increase from the 5,809 cases reported in 2024 and 4,785 in 2023. The vast majority are reported in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Quebec.

Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics when caught early, but if it goes undiagnosed, it can lead to long-term effects including cognitive impairment, persistent fatigue, and widespread joint and muscle pain. Catching a tick bite early matters.

How to Protect Yourself This Summer

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends using insect repellent and wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when you are spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Tucking your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks adds protection. Lighter-coloured clothing makes ticks easier to spot before they attach.

After spending time outdoors, do a thorough tick check on yourself, your children, and any pets. Pay particular attention to areas like the scalp, behind the knees, around the waist, and under the arms.

If you find a tick, remove it carefully and monitor yourself for symptoms like fever, chills, rash, or fatigue over the following days and weeks. If you have concerns after a tick bite, including whether you need preventive antibiotics, a family doctor or walk-in clinic can help. You can find one near you at medimap.ca.