We share our woods and fields with all kinds of creatures, but the most dangerous animal most of us are likely to encounter on Digby Neck and the Islands is one we may never see at all.
By PASSAGES editor, Monica Stark
On the first day of summer, as the sun was going down, I went for a short hike to a favourite spot – a lookout just up the shore from (north of) Beautiful Cove. I followed the road from my house to the end of Lover’s Lane, then the dirt road down to Beautiful Cove. From there, it was only a five-minute hike along a narrow path through scrubby grass on the cliff-top, followed by a short stretch through a swampy area dotted with salt-gnarled spruce trees, before emerging onto a breathtaking perch above the Bay. I was looking forward to finding a seat on the sun-warmed basalt columns, watching the sky and the Bay as they changed colours, and maybe, if I was lucky, spotting a whale. Instead, I found myself fighting off a mild panic attack.
The first thing I did when I stepped off the grass and onto the rocks was stop for a tick check. Like many people on Digby Neck and the Islands, I’ve been bitten before. I had Lyme disease in 2016 and spent a month on doxycycline. Since then, I’ve twice needed preventative treatment after finding embedded ticks. You could say I’m tick-shy. I wear light-coloured clothing, tuck my pant legs into my socks, and stop frequently on walks to check for hitchhikers. Standing on that clifftop with the solstice sun sinking peacefully into the Bay, I looked down and found ten ticks clinging to my lower legs. Unable to relax and enjoy the view, I turned around and headed home. By the time I reached the end of the trail, I had picked up six more.
What strikes me most is how recent this all feels. Growing up in the 1980s and 90s, I knew ticks existed because our family frequently camped at Keji, where they were already established. But here, I could spend entire days berry picking, building forts in the woods, or wandering fields and shorelines without giving ticks a second thought. Nobody carried a tick key. Dogs weren’t routinely on preventative medication. Tick checks weren’t part of everyday life. Now that’s all changed.
Today, the smallest creature in our woods may be one of the most dangerous. Not because ticks themselves are aggressive, but because of what they can carry. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and several other illnesses have transformed ticks from a nuisance into a genuine public health concern. Veterinarians regularly treat tick-borne diseases in dogs, and many of us know friends, neighbours, or family members who have dealt with Lyme disease themselves.
If it seems like there are more ticks than there used to be, you’re not imagining things. Scientists have documented the rapid expansion of tick populations across Canada over the last few decades. Black-legged ticks, the species primarily responsible for spreading Lyme disease, were once largely confined to the northeastern United States. Today, they are well established throughout much of Nova Scotia. Warmer winters, longer growing seasons, abundant deer populations, and migratory birds carrying ticks northward have all contributed to their spread. Researchers estimate that the range of black-legged ticks has expanded northward by roughly 40 to 50 kilometres each year. In ecological terms, that’s remarkably fast.
Ticks themselves don’t seek us out. They don’t jump or fly. Instead, they wait patiently on blades of grass and shrubs, extending their front legs in a behaviour scientists call “questing.” When a passing animal or person brushes against them, they simply grab on and go along for the ride. Nova Scotia is home to several species of ticks. The black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, gets most of the attention because it is the primary carrier of Lyme disease. American dog ticks are also common, and squirrel ticks occasionally turn up. More recently, researchers have begun documenting lone star ticks in the province. While still uncommon, the lone star tick has attracted attention because its bite has been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a condition that can trigger a potentially lifelong allergy to meat products, including beef, pork, and venison.
The increase in tick populations has become such a concern that Acadia University recently opened the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre. Researchers there are studying ticks native to Nova Scotia and searching for new ways to prevent tick bites and tick-borne illnesses. One surprising finding is that lemongrass oil may have promise as a natural tick repellent. That research has helped inspire products such as Nova Scotia-made Puregard, formerly known as AtlanTick. While no repellent is perfect, it’s encouraging to see local scientists and entrepreneurs tackling a problem that affects so many people in our province.
The result of all this is that many of us have had to change our relationship with the outdoors. Something as simple as gardening or yard work now means the extra steps of carefully checking your clothes afterward. Walking the dog requires paying attention to ears, paws, and fur. Hikes are followed by showers and tick inspections. Pet owners have become familiar with monthly medications that previous generations never had to think about. Yet none of this means we should stop enjoying the natural world around us. Walking in the woods, tending our gardens, and spending time outdoors are some of the healthiest things we can do. Fear isn’t the answer; awareness is.
Over the years, I’ve become something of a reluctant student of tick prevention. In addition to wearing light-coloured clothing and doing regular tick checks, I’ve found that physical barriers make a huge difference. A snug, thin sweat-wicking base layer made from a stretchy spandex blend, with the shirt tucked into the pants and the pant legs tucked into socks, creates a barrier that keeps ticks off bare skin and makes them easier to spot before they attach. Some people are also turning to permethrin-treated clothing, which has proven highly effective against ticks. Permethrin is extremely toxic to cats in its liquid form until it has dried completely, however, so it should be handled with caution around feline companions. I have two cats, and I don’t want the possibility of exposing them, so I’ve not tried this option. Combined with repellents containing DEET or Icaridin, or even plant-based alternatives such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, these precautions can significantly reduce the risk of bites without forcing us to give up time outdoors.
Fortunately, treatment and prevention have become more accessible than ever. Nova Scotia pharmacists can now assess and prescribe antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease in certain situations. Timing matters: the tick generally needs to have been attached for at least 36 hours, and preventative treatment is most effective when started within 72 hours of removing the tick. Pharmacists can also assess and treat early Lyme disease, making care available without waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Technology is helping, too. Through eTick.ca, anyone can upload photos of ticks for identification, while also helping researchers map tick populations and track changes over time.
Knowing when to seek medical attention is equally important. The classic bull’s-eye rash associated with Lyme disease doesn’t appear in every case. I never developed one myself. Flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, or an unexplained summer illness following a tick bite are all reasons to contact a healthcare provider. Early treatment is highly effective, and it’s far better to err on the side of caution than to wait and hope symptoms disappear on their own. Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis can be fatal if left untreated. Which makes ticks the most dangerous creature in our forests.
Some people preserve removed ticks by sticking them to clear tape, while others drop them into rubbing alcohol or place them in the freezer. There are even laboratories, such as Geneticks in Ontario, that will test ticks for Lyme disease and other pathogens for a fee. Whether or not such testing is necessary is a matter of personal preference and should never replace medical advice, but it illustrates just how much awareness and science around ticks has evolved in recent years.
As much as I dislike ticks, I try to remind myself that they are not malicious. They’re simply animals doing what evolution designed them to do. They’re part of a changing ecosystem and, like it or not, part of life now. Previous generations here didn’t think twice about ticks. My generation grew up without them and had to learn. Future generations may simply accept tick checks, dog medications, and insect repellent as routine.
But no matter the extra steps and precautions, I don’t plan to let ticks stop me from enjoying time outdoors. Because despite the ticks, ferny glades still beckon, whales still swim by, the sun still sets over the Bay, and the wild places we love are still worth visiting.
Tick Smart: Reducing Your Risk
No method offers complete protection, but a few simple precautions can greatly reduce the chances of bringing home an unwanted hitchhiker.
Wear light-coloured clothing. Ticks are easier to spot on pale fabrics.
Cover exposed skin. Long sleeves, long pants, and closed shoes are the safest bet.
Create barriers. A snug, thin base layer made from a spandex blend can help keep ticks off your skin. Tucking pant legs into socks and shirts into pants creates a surprisingly effective barrier and makes it easier to spot ticks before they reach exposed skin. Rubber boots and slick, smooth fabrics are harder for ticks to grab onto.
Stay on established trails when possible. Ticks don’t jump or fly. They wait on grasses, shrubs, and low vegetation for something to brush past.
Choose a repellent that works for you. Products containing DEET or Icaridin have the strongest scientific evidence and are proven to repel ticks when used according to label directions. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) is a plant-derived alternative that also has good evidence behind it. Researchers at Acadia University’s Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre are investigating the potential of lemongrass oil as a natural repellent, and some Nova Scotia-made products already incorporate it.
Consider permethrin-treated clothing. Permethrin-embedded or permethrin-treated clothing is highly effective against ticks. However, liquid permethrin is extremely toxic to cats until it has completely dried, so use caution and follow product directions carefully.
Do regular tick checks. Stop periodically during long walks and inspect your clothing and legs, especially after passing through long grass or brush.
Shower after coming indoors. A shower and a thorough inspection within a couple of hours of coming inside can help remove ticks before they attach.
Heat kills! Isolate any clothing you wore outside in a sealed bag until you can get them into a hot dryer for 20 minutes to kill any hitchhikers. Leave your shoes outside until you can check them thoroughly.
Check pets carefully. Pay special attention to ears, neck, under collars, between the toes, and around the tail. Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products.
Keep a tick-removal tool handy. Fine-tipped tweezers or a tick key make removing attached ticks easier and reduce the chance of leaving mouthparts behind.
Know that help is available. Nova Scotia pharmacists can assess and prescribe antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease in some circumstances and can also provide treatment for early Lyme disease. Preventative treatment is most effective when started within 72 hours of removing an attached tick.
Not sure what bit you? Upload a photo to eTick.ca for identification and help researchers track tick populations across Canada.