Ticks. Those tiny, parasitic arachnids that latch onto you and feed on your blood. We’ve all heard of them, but how much do you really know about them?

There are many misconceptions about ticks. Here, you can learn about them and their anatomy, how to avoid them, where you can find them, how to remove them, and what you can do to prevent them from sinking their hypostomes into you.

Ticks carry many diseases, most famously Lyme Disease, but they can also cause several other diseases in both human and pet hosts. These include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Powassan Virus, Babesiosis, and Alpha-Gal syndrome.

While these diseases are less common in Prince Edward Island and Canada in
general, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Nearly 5,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Canada in 2024, with 4 cases reported in P.E.I. This doesn’t sound like a lot, but Lyme Disease can have serious long-lasting effects.

Where ticks live:

Trees, shrubs, long grass, bushes, and leaf piles are all places where ticks make
their homes. The warmer and wetter the weather, the more commonplace they are.

Ticks start appearing in May, as soon as frost disappears from the ground, but they are most common in June and July, when wet, hot, and humid conditions cause them to flourish.

Ticks are not as common on P.E.I. as in other provinces, but their population has been steadily growing over the last ten years.

How to avoid ticks:

Ticks love tall grass the most. Whenever you are walking through an area with lots of grass, shrubbery, or anything that can brush up against you, make sure to wear long pants. Even a thin layer works to prevent a tick bite.

Make sure to tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants, and wear closed-toe shoes so they can’t climb underneath your layers.

Lighter-coloured clothes can also come in handy for spotting ticks if they start crawling on you.

Of course, walking on groomed paths and avoiding long grass is the best way to avoid ticks in the first place, but if you must, make sure to apply insect repellent and take proper precautions to ensure you’re not bitten by a tick.

Before heading indoors after a trip outside, make sure to inspect yourself, others, and pets for any signs of unattached ticks. Taking a shower after a trip through long grass can help wash off any unattached ticks. If you suspect that there might be ticks on your clothes, throwing them in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes will kill any surviving ticks.

The anatomy of ticks:

Ticks are arachnids, much like mites and spiders. They have eight chitinous legs and can jump and latch onto skin with their mouths. Using their hypostomes, harpoon-like spears, they bite skin and feed on blood. Initially, ticks are quite small, but once they begin feeding, they can grow rapidly, ballooning as they eat.

Ticks are small, very small. When inspecting yourself for ticks, feel for bumps and look for tiny dark spots. A tick nymph is only 1.15 mm long; adult males are 2 mm long, adult females are 3 mm long; and a fully fed female will be around a centimetre long.

How to remove ticks:

When you find a tick, it is important to remove it SAFELY as quickly as you can. Do not try to remove it by burning, scraping, smothering or cutting.

With a pair of sanitized tweezers, get as close as you can to the head of the tick. Pull the head straight out slowly. Do not try to twist or squeeze the tick, as this could cause damage to your body.

If the mouthpart breaks and lodges in the skin, try to remove it with the tweezers. If not, leave it alone and let it heal. The skin will heal and break down the mouthpiece on its own.

Clean the area with soap and water or an alcohol-based wipe. If you need help with removing a tick, don’t hesitate to call a friend or family member to help.

If you feel unwell after removal or if the tick has buried itself deep within your skin, seek medical attention immediately.

Every year, the number of reported ticks and cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses grows exponentially. According to Yahoo! News, ticks have been reported in Ontario Provincial Parks earlier than ever before. 2026 is on record to have the most ticks in Canadian history, and with more species migrating north from the United States, it’s best to be careful.

But it isn’t all bad news. Environmental and medical agencies are working hard to develop innovative solutions to curb the spread of ticks.

According to CBC, researchers at the University of Ottawa have possibly found a strong method of reducing tick numbers on walking trails. In a study published earlier in May, spreading a covering of wood chips on trails can reduce tick presence and, by extension, Lyme disease cases. The number of ticks was reduced by 99%.

With increased focus on these pests, expect more solutions to be developed in the future. In the meantime, wear some long pants and use bug spray while walking!