Unfortunately, people of Regina may not have a choice as tick season begins again. As the weather gets warmer, we all expect to spend more time outside.

This puts us at an increased risk for tick bites.

Learn some ideas about prevention and what to do if one attaches to you.

There are four life stages to these creatures (egg, larva, nymph, adult) with May - July being the most active months to interact with us.

Humans and animals are both susceptible hosts.

Remember to keep ticks for proper identification. While this type of tick is not known for carrying Lyme disease, there are other species nearby in Canada that carry this and other transmissible diseases. Once a tick has started to feed, it increases in size and can be harder to identify by the average person. The longer it is attached, the more likely an infection is to occur.

If you find a tick that has attached itself, do not panic, but remove it as soon as possible.

When removing a tick, make sure that the entire body (including the head) is removed after attaching to a host. Special products are sold that may assist you in this process. 

If all you have are your fingers or tweasers, grab as close to the head of the tick as possible. Pull upward with steady pressure. Do not quickly yank it out. Check that you have the entire tick.

Monitor the area of the bite for a rash, bump or swelling. Notify your doctor if you get flu-like symptoms.

Ticks love grassy and wooded areas. Walk in the center of trails and stay out of the longer brush if possible.

If you enter these areas, use proper clothing and gear. 

Tuck your socks over your pants, wear long sleeves, and a hat.

Light coloured clothing or special inspect repellents may also help.

Check Yourself When You Get Home

This includes removing clothing items to look at the inside of areas such as pants. Ticks like to crawl around for a while before finding a proper place to stay.

Brush your fingers through your hair and check again a few hours later.

Don't forget under your bra, inside your belly button, behind your ears and between your toes.

Examine Pets

Our furry friends may introduce ticks into your home. Sometimes they may attach to your pet while other times, they may crawl off of them.

It's not always easy to scan your entire dog for ticks (especially the long-haired ones). Keep in mind that your pets can also become sick if the right kind of parasite attaches to them long enough. 

Ticks can be tricky to find if they hide behind your dogs ears, in their armpits, or even in their mouth.

Ask your veterinarian for their recommendation of tick medication.