Know Your Ticks (FAQ)

Are there ticks in Canada?

Yes! There are 32 species of ticks in Canada. They fall into two categories; hard-bodied and soft-bodied ticks. Different ticks find us in different ways and present different risks for humans and animals.

How do ticks find us?

Ticks are very attracted to the carbon dioxide we breathe and can pick up on this from a distance.
Ticks also respond to smells, vibrations and the changes in light and temperature we create as we walk through their habitats.

Do ticks carry diseases?

There are a few tick species that can make both humans and animals sick, such as:

• Lyme disease
• Relapsing fever
• Tularaemia
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Q fever
• Colorado tick fever
• Powassan encephalitis
• A certain tick genus (Dermacentor) can cause paralysis in humans and other mammals following long periods of feeding. Tick paralysis can result in death if the feeding ticks are allowed to remain attached to the host for too long.

Learn how to identify ticks with our Disease Carrying Ticks of Canada guide.