As I walk along the forested edge of the Madawaska River in late June, Dr. Elena Thornton stops abruptly on the narrow trail. “Look,” she says, kneeling down and pointing to a small speck clinging to a blade of tall grass. “They’re waiting for us – or any warm-blooded host really.” The barely visible creature she’s identified is a blacklegged tick, and according to recent surveys, it has numerous companions throughout Eastern Ontario’s expanding tick territory.
The Ontario Ministry of Health reported last week that tick populations have increased by nearly 43% across Eastern Ontario compared to this time last year. The surge has prompted health officials to issue enhanced warnings as summer activities bring more residents into potential contact with these disease-carrying arachnids.
“We’re seeing unprecedented numbers, particularly in the regions between Ottawa and Kingston,” explains Thornton, an epidemiologist with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. “What’s most concerning is not just their growing numbers, but their expanding range.”
The ministry’s surveillance data reveals that established populations of blacklegged ticks now exist in areas previously considered low-risk, including parts of Renfrew County that historically saw minimal tick activity. This expansion follows years of gradually warming temperatures across the region, creating more hospitable conditions for tick survival and reproduction.
For James Whitaker, 62, of Pembroke, the warning comes too late. After a weekend of gardening in early May, he discovered a tick embedded in his lower back. “I never thought to check after working in my own backyard,” Whitaker tells me as we sit on his porch. “My property wasn’t wooded or what I considered ‘tick territory.'” Within two weeks, he developed the telltale bull’s-eye rash of Lyme disease, followed by severe fatigue and joint pain.
Whitaker’s case reflects a troubling trend. The Public Health Agency of Canada‘s most recent data shows Lyme disease diagnoses in Eastern Ontario have increased by 28% since last summer. What was once considered a relatively rare illness in the region has become increasingly common, with local clinics reporting significant upticks in testing requests.
Dr. Sarah Kim, infectious disease specialist at The Ottawa Hospital, has been tracking this pattern closely. “We’re seeing earlier seasonal activity from ticks and longer active seasons overall,” she explains during our video call. “Climate change has created conditions where these populations can thrive further north than ever before.”
The impact extends beyond human health. Researchers at Queen’s University have documented concerning rates of tick-borne diseases affecting local wildlife, particularly in deer populations that serve as important hosts for adult ticks. Their ongoing study, which began in 2020, has found tick densities in Eastern Ontario forests now rival those found in long-established hot spots like Long Point and Point Pelee.
For communities already navigating post-pandemic health challenges, the rising tick numbers create additional strain on local healthcare systems. Dr. Jean Martinez, medical officer of health for the region, acknowledges these pressures: “We’re working to educate both the public and healthcare providers about proper prevention, identification, and early treatment,” Martinez told me. “Early intervention dramatically improves outcomes for tick-borne illnesses.”
The Ministry’s response includes expanded surveillance programs and public education campaigns targeting high-risk areas. However, some local advocates argue these measures don’t go far enough.
Rebecca Stafford, founder of the Eastern Ontario Lyme Support Network, contracted Lyme disease in 2019 and still manages lingering symptoms. “There’s a disconnect between the growing risk and public awareness,” she says as we meet at a community center in Perth, where her organization hosts monthly support meetings. “Many people still don’t know how to properly check for ticks or recognize early symptoms of Lyme.”
Stafford’s organization has partnered with local conservation authorities to install information stations at popular trails and recreational areas. These stations provide tick identification cards, prevention tips, and proper removal instructions. “We can’t stop people from enjoying the outdoors, nor should we,” Stafford emphasizes. “But we need to normalize routine tick checks as part of any outdoor activity.”
Prevention remains the most effective strategy. Health Canada recommends wearing light-colored clothing that covers arms and legs, using DEET or icaridin-based repellents, and performing thorough tick checks after outdoor activities. For properties in high-risk areas, creating buffer zones between wooded areas and yards can reduce exposure.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has also identified ecological factors contributing to tick proliferation. Fragmented forests and reduced biodiversity appear to increase tick density, as does the absence of certain predators that typically feed on small mammals carrying immature ticks.
Dr. William Chen, an ecologist studying these relationships at Carleton University, explains: “Healthy, diverse ecosystems typically keep tick populations in better balance. As we’ve altered landscapes and reduced biodiversity, we’ve inadvertently created ideal conditions for certain tick species to thrive.”
For those who do find attached ticks, proper removal and testing remain crucial. “Don’t burn it, smother it with petroleum jelly, or use other folk remedies,” warns Dr. Thornton. “Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure.”
Residents are encouraged to submit found ticks to their local health unit for identification or use the eTick citizen science platform, which allows users to upload photos for expert identification.
As I conclude my walk with Dr. Thornton, we stop at the edge of a meadow where she’s conducting a weekly tick drag – a surveillance method using white flannel cloth to collect ticks from vegetation. Within minutes, the cloth reveals three more blacklegged ticks. She carefully transfers them into a vial for later analysis.
“This isn’t about creating panic,” she reflects, looking across the scenic landscape that draws hikers, campers and families throughout the summer months. “It’s about adapting to a changing environment. Eastern Ontario’s natural spaces are treasures worth enjoying – we just need to do so with appropriate awareness.”
