A wave of ticks from the U.S. is expected to hit Canada this summer
Lyme disease-carrying ticks are migrating north from the United States, bringing heightened risk to Canadian summer. Experts warn this could become the new normal.
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A significant wave of ticks is expected to move north from the United States into Canada this summer, posing a heightened risk for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses across the country.
The migration represents more than a one-time spike. Experts suggest it could signal a permanent shift in Canadian summers, with tick activity becoming a routine concern rather than an anomaly.
Ticks are small parasites that burrow into skin and can transmit Lyme disease, which can cause long-term complications if untreated. Parents and pet owners have long flagged ticks as a seasonal worry, but this year's influx has amplified those concerns.
Justin Wood, founder of Geneticks—Canada's first private tick testing lab—outlined the challenge in recent remarks. He spoke to the reasons behind the migration, what protective steps residents can take, and what a tick-heavy summer might look like going forward.
For now, the best approach remains vigilance: checking skin and pets after outdoor activities, wearing light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily, and being alert to early symptoms of Lyme disease such as a circular rash or flu-like illness.
Public health authorities are monitoring the situation as tick populations move north.
