Tick season in Niagara is off to fast start.
Niagara public health says they have already had 83 tick submissions this year.
Peter Jekel, Manager of Environmental Health, says they usually they have about 20-to-25 by this time of year. He adds, "The cooler wetter spring so far has allowed the ticks to thrive underneath leaf litter and stuff like that and when people venture out on those rare sunny days that we do get the ticks will attach themselves to both animals and to people."
Of the 83 ticks sent in for testing, 80 of them have been black-legged ticks, those are the ticks that carry lyme disease.
Most of the region is considered a higher risk area by Ontario Public Health.
You are reminded to wear light colour clothing, put on a bug spray with deet or incardin, and to check for ticks on your body and clothing after heading outdoors.
https://www.niagararegion.ca/living/health_wellness/disease-prevent/ticks/default.aspx
To hear an interview with Peter Jekel, Manager of Environmental Health click HERE.