Tick Safety Advisory

Now that summer is upon us and residents are spending more time outdoors enjoying hiking trails, camps, cottages, parks, gardens, and wooded areas, the Municipality of Huron Shores would like to remind the public to take precautions against ticks. Ticks are commonly found in tall grass, brush, wooded areas, and leaf litter, and some ticks may carry illnesses such as Lyme disease.

While enjoying the outdoors this season, residents are encouraged to take simple preventative measures to help reduce the risk of tick bites.

✅ Tips to Help Prevent Tick Bites:
• Wear light-coloured clothing to make ticks easier to spot
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes when possible
• Tuck pant legs into socks while walking through wooded or grassy areas
• Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin and follow product instructions carefully
• Stay on marked trails and avoid walking through tall grass and dense brush
• Shower or bathe after spending time outdoors
• Perform a full body tick check on yourself, children, and pets after being outside
• Place outdoor clothing in the dryer on high heat after being outdoors to help kill ticks
• Keep lawns and brush trimmed around your property to help reduce tick habitat

⚠️ What NOT To Do:
• Do not squeeze, crush, or twist the tick while removing it
• Do not use petroleum jelly, nail polish, gasoline, or heat to try to remove a tick
• Do not burn the tick with a match or lighter
• Do not handle ticks with bare hands when possible

These methods may increase the risk of infection or cause the tick to release more bacteria into the bite area.

🐾 Don’t Forget Your Pets!
Ticks can attach to pets and be brought indoors. Regularly check pets after outdoor activities and speak with your veterinarian about tick prevention products.

🩺 If You Find a Tick Attached:
Remove the tick as soon as possible using fine-point tweezers. Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward slowly and steadily without twisting. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol after removal. Monitor for symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, or a rash, and contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop. Residents may also bring ticks to Algoma Public Health for identification and testing information or submit photos through eTick Canada.

📍 Additional Resources & Information:
Residents can learn more about tick prevention, tick identification, tick removal, and tick-borne illnesses by visiting:
• Algoma Public Health – Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases
• Government of Canada – Removing & Submitting Ticks for Testing

Enjoy the outdoors safely this summer! 🌲☀️