We’ve all had unwelcome guests at the cottage, but since the 1990s, in part due to climate change, many warmer parts of Canada have dealt with another unwanted guest. Ticks, and especially blacklegged ticks, which may carry Lyme disease, have been heading north. And since tick season in many parts of Canada now extends from early spring to late fall, with peak times of concern during the warmest weeks of summer, it’s important to focus on tick prevention when you’re heading out for an outdoor social event. Thankfully, OFF!® Deep Woods® Insect Repellent – DEET-Free Aerosol helps protect you and your family with a DEET-free formula that repels ticks for up to eight hours and mosquitoes for up to seven hours. Not only is it quick-drying and fragrance-free, but it can also be used for children six months and older. So be sure to make tick prevention part of your routine when you’re preparing for an outdoor event in any of these tick hotspots throughout Canada.
Wooded areas and forests
Planning for a retreat or workshop, or maybe even a wedding in a picturesque wooded area? You’ll be in prime tick territory, where they can latch onto passing hosts before burrowing in. Any time you’re in the woods during the warmer months in southern parts of Canada, long sleeves and pants are a good plan, as are effective repellents, like OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellents.
Parks and recreational areas
We love visiting our provincial parks for an afternoon hike or a day at a less-crowded beach, but parks with dense vegetation and wildlife are another favourite tick hangout. When you take a rest, avoid sitting directly on the ground, and try to stick to well-maintained trails instead of taking that shortcut to the water. Wearing light colours can also help you spot ticks when they climb aboard.
Grassy and overgrown fields
Ontario’s cottage country boasts a breadth of opportunities to embrace music and culture in the great outdoors. But those same grassy fields—and especially the dense brush that lines wooded areas—are a frequent home of ticks that may be carrying Lyme disease. That’s also true in agricultural regions, where common animals like deer are favourite hosts. Avoid contact with the vegetation during festival days, and while you’re applying sunscreen, add a proper repellent to your skin-protection regimen.
Coastal regions and wetlands
Whether you’re spending the day birding or just lounging at the beach, be aware that ticks don’t just linger in the woods. You’ll also find blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) in coastal areas, marshes, and estuaries—and especially along wooded shorelines. If one of your favourite cottage pastimes is island hopping, make sure protective clothing and tick repellent are part of your plan.
Suburban and urban green spaces
We’ve gotten used to applying sunscreen before a stroll in the park, but we might not expect ticks to be present in the city. The reality is, many natural urban spaces in the warmer parts of Canada, including backyard gardens and parks, can put you in close proximity with potential Lyme disease-carrying ticks. At home, keep your lawn and shrubs well-maintained, and add repellent to your routine before heading out to enjoy a green space with a friend.
Heading out into nature? Protect yourself with OFF! Insect Repellents and discover for yourself why OFF! is the #1 doctor-recommended personal insect repellent brand* for preventing ticks and mosquitoes in Canada.
*Based on 2023 IQVIA ProVoice Canada Survey of doctors from 1/2023-12/2023.
Photo source: Shutterstock/Lightspring