An uptick in ticks: Milder weather contributes to longer tick seasons

A southern New Brunswick veterinarian is advising dog owners to be on guard for ticks even earlier than some might think necessary. Dr. Sara Pridham of Stoneybrook Veterinary Services in St. Martins recorded three cases of Lyme disease in dogs and one case of anaplasmosis, also spread through tick bites, before March 18. According to Pridham, last year’s first tick case was in April, while this year it occurred on Jan. 17, attributing the early activity to the particularly mild winter in the Maritimes.

Dr. Pridham explained that ticks and other parasites become active when temperatures reach around 4°C. These parasitic arachnids feed off their hosts and can spread diseases, such as Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and anaplasmosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Vett Lloyd, a biology professor at Mount Allison University and the head of the Lloyd Tick Lab, noted that ticks were out earlier and later into the fall this year due to less snow cover and melting, leading to an extended tick season. She emphasized that ticks do not die over winter but wait in leaf litter for warmer temperatures to become active.

Lloyd also mentioned a steady increase in tick numbers and extended tick seasons over the last few years, with this year being particularly mild. She advised pet owners to be vigilant and remove ticks from their animals as soon as possible to prevent the spread of diseases.