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Spring has sprung: How to protect against Lyme disease when enjoying nature

May 14, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Now that spring has arrived, so has the danger of encountering ticks when hiking or being in places where they thrive.

If you spend time outdoors in forests and wooded areas, or areas with shrubs, tall grass, and leaf litter, you should be aware of ticks and Lyme disease.

Lyme disease can be serious, but it is preventable. You can protect yourself and your family by knowing the risks of tick bites, how to prevent them, and what to do if you find a tick, if you get bitten, or if you get sick.

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorfei. It is a tick-borne disease transmitted to humans and pets through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick.

Not all ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. However, it may only take one bite from an infected tick to make you sick.

If a tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is extremely low.

You cannot tell if a tick is infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease by looking at it, so treat all blacklegged ticks the same.

Lyme disease does not spread from person to person.

The disease can be effectively treated in its early stages, and sometimes medication can be taken after a tick bite to prevent symptoms from starting.

If left untreated, more severe, longstanding symptoms and complications may occur.

Blacklegged ticks are present in Simcoe and Muskoka. Locally acquired blacklegged ticks have tested positive for the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

If you get bitten by a tick, you must identify the species. If it is determined to be a blacklegged tick, contact your health care provider as soon as possible, as there may be medication that can prevent symptoms from developing.

It is important to seek medical attention if you develop symptoms within 30 days of a suspected tick bite.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can include a skin rash, sometimes shaped like a bullseye, fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, stiff neck, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and facial paralysis.

To prevent tick bites, wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, and closed-toe footwear when in areas where ticks may be present.

After being outdoors in a possible tick area, you should do a full body check to find any ticks that have attached to you.

If you find one tick, check the rest of your body. If there is one, there is a good chance there are more.

If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible and save it in a sealed container for identification.

Preventing tick bites in the first place is the first line of defence against Lyme disease. 

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