Canada Tick Guide (By Province)

Written by Phillip George · Last updated: July 24, 2026

Ticks in Canada: the national picture

Tick-borne disease has changed fast in Canada. Reported Lyme disease cases climbed from just 144 in 2009 to several thousand a year by the mid-2020s, as blacklegged ticks expanded their range with warming winters. But the risk is not the same everywhere — Canada really has two tick stories, an eastern one and a western one, and this hub breaks it down by province.

East vs. west: why province matters

• Eastern Canada (Ontario, Québec, the Maritimes): the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is established and spreading, driving high and rising rates of Lyme disease, plus anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Nova Scotia and parts of Ontario and Québec have some of the highest Lyme rates in the country.
• British Columbia: a different vector, the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus), carries Lyme at much lower infection rates; the interior's Rocky Mountain wood tick brings its own concerns.
• The Prairies (e.g., Manitoba): the large American dog tick ("wood tick") is the common springtime tick, while blacklegged ticks are established mainly in the southeast and expanding.

Two things that help everywhere in Canada

• Prompt, complete removal lowers the chance of infection — see our tick removal guide.
• Free identification via eTick.ca, a national platform (run from Bishop's University with PHAC funding) where you upload a photo and a regional expert replies, usually within 24 hours.

Choose your province

What to do after a tick bite (Canada)

If you’ve removed a tick, your next steps are usually: clean the area, note the date/location, and monitor for symptoms. For step-by-step removal and what to do next: