When black-legged ticks gain ground

Ticks are not insects and they do not fly. They are mites: tiny parasites, often difficult to see with the naked eye, that feed exclusively off blood.

In Quebec, there are dozens of tick species that may bite humans and animals. The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is one of them and is the main one responsible for the transmission of Lyme disease. In 2024, over 680 cases of this disease were reported in the province, 568 of which were confirmed to have been locally contracted.[2]

Black-legged ticks are found mainly in regions with a high white-tailed deer, also called roe deer, and white-footed mouse population. Initially concentrated in Montérégie, Estrie and southern Ontario, its presence is extending northward at an estimated rate of 33–55 km per year. With the effects of global warming, this expansion is expected to continue.[3] Already, in 2024, more than 20% of Lyme disease cases have been reported north of the St. Lawrence River, including one confirmed case in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.[2]

Illustration from reference 4

It’s not always easy to identify a tick with the naked eye, especially when it’s miniscule. Here are a few hints on how to identify a black-legged tick:

• Its size: 1–3 mm
• Its legs: eight compared to the six that most insects have
• Its appearance: disproportion between the size of its blood-filled abdomen and its head

To confirm your findings, you can also send a photo to an identification platform, such as Sherbrooke’s Bishop’s University eTick website.[4]

In Quebec, 20% to 50% of black-legged ticks carry B. Burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. That means that not all tick bites necessarily lead to infection.[5]

The tick must remain attached to the skin for more that 24 hours to transmit the B. Burgdorferi bacterium. That timeframe gives us a valuable opportunity to act: by carefully inspecting our bodies, and those of our children and our pets, after an outdoor activity, we can identify and remove the tick before it has had time to infect us.

And it’s important to know how to remove it properly…

When we see a tick attached to our skin, what we are seeing is mainly its abdomen – often filled with blood. However, it’s its tiny head, buried under the skin, that absolutely must be removed. This is the technique suggested by Healthy Canadians:[6]

1. Using tweezers, grasp the tick, as close to the skin as possible, without pressing on its abdomen.
2. Gently, but firmly and constantly pull the tick without twisting or crushing it. This helps remove the whole tick without breaking it. If its head remains in the skin, try to gently remove it using the tweezers. If you are unable to do so, leave it in place and let the skin heal.
3. Place the tick in a sealed container, such an empty pill bottle, and keep it in the fridge. This precaution may be useful if a medical or veterinary visit becomes necessary.
4. Once the tick has been removed, clean the area well with soap and water, and wash your hands thoroughly.

If you live in an area where black-legged ticks are present – or if your outdoor activities put you at higher risk (hike, picnic, bird watching, gardening, etc.) – you may be interested in acquiring one or more tick pullers; tweezers specifically designed for removing ticks.

It’s normal to worry after a tick bite. At Biron Health at Work, our nursing staff is specially trained to respond to your concerns and guide you with kindness and care, whether you are an employee or an employer. This post-accident response and care service in the event of tick bites provides clear advice and guides you through the next steps depending on your situation.

Lyme disease is not the only illness that black-legged ticks can transmit. In rarer, but often more serious cases, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan encephalitis have also been reported in Quebec. With the expansion of tick territory, we expect that number to continue to rise. In this context, being able to identify and remove ticks safely becomes an essential preventive act.