Ticks creeping into Edmonton as Lyme disease cases rise
Blood-sucking parasites are moving from rural areas into urban parks and river valley. Here's what to watch for.
Edmonton and area is seeing an uptick in ticks carrying Lyme disease, warns University of Alberta entomologist Janet Sperling. The parasites, traditionally found in rural locations, are now showing up in urban areas tracked by the eTick app, including neighborhoods far from the river valley like Mill Woods.
Ticks emerge around April and lurk through June. In recent seasons, blacklegged ticks carrying Lyme disease have appeared in the city — around 26 tick incidents reported in Edmonton since April 20.
Sperling attributes the shift to changing climate patterns making it easier for ticks to thrive in urban areas, combined with the city expanding outward into tick habitats. The river valley remains prime territory — ticks gravitate to moist, damp areas where Edmonton's park system dominates.
Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose early. Symptoms start flu-like with large red rashes, then progress to joint pain or facial paralysis in later stages. Health Canada recorded 5,809 cases nationwide in 2024, with rising diagnoses trending upward.
Dog owners should use topical tick treatments and do thorough checks after walks. Walkers are advised to wear long-sleeved light clothing. The City of Edmonton earns praise from Sperling for its mosquito and tick control efforts — among the best in Canada, she says. Report ticks to the provincial Submit-a-Tick program to help track the spread. The more data collected, the clearer the picture of where these parasites are heading next.