While there was only one human tick bite reported in Cochrane this year, it was a different story for the rest of the province. 

Alberta’s Submit-a-Tick program lets anyone who comes in contact with a tick report location and picture evidence to aid in the monitoring ticks in the province. Currently, there are a total of 534 tick sightings in Alberta reported. 234 bites on humans while there were 258 bites on animals reported.

mapA map of the reported tick sigtings/bites in Alberta for 2021 (Photo - eTick.ca)

Tracking tick sightings and bites can help the province monitor the locations, population, and whether or not disease is spreading due to bites.

Many species of ticks are found throughout Alberta, but it is rare to find ticks that carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease in people. 132 human cases of Lyme disease were reported in Alberta between 1991 and 2020.

With the unusually high fall temperatures, the tick season has been able to extend further than in previous years. Ticks can survive in temperatures 4 degrees Celsius or higher. Reports of ticks in the province continue to climb with the latest coming in on October 14, 2021.