B.C. tick season in full swing, experts issue warning
Posted July 22, 2025 7:29 am.
They’re small. They’re hard-bodied. And they bite.
Tick season is underway in B.C., and thanks to the recent hot weather we’ve been experiencing, they’re thriving.
Gail Wallin, the executive director of the Invasive Species of British Columbia, tells 1130 NewsRadio that two kinds of ticks are native to B.C.
“Ticks are one of the things that we always want to be aware of,” explained Wallin. “Most of the ticks we’re worried about are actually native, and they belong here. There are over 30 different ticks that are recognized.”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!“There are two main ticks that we’re particularly concerned about in B.C. — the western blacklegged tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick.”
She says if there’s one on you, or your cat or dog, you should pull it out immediately, and get it identified because it helps researchers.
“You can register it on eTick, because there’s an app for everything. So, you can find out what tick it is and help build up the knowledge of what ticks are where in British Columbia.”
Wallin says ticks live in grassy areas, and explains that when you head outside, it’s key to wear pants, not shorts, and long sleeves, so you can protect yourself.
“We’ll often wear socks over our pants to make sure we don’t get ticks on us. Do a tick check before you leave the site, so you’re not bringing them home, and make sure you’re checking for those ticks early on because if you do have a tick on you, or your pet, you want to have it removed early so there’s less chance of infection,” she said.
“In Vancouver, there was a tick found recently on a dog — many pet owners actually use anti-tick medication so they can prevent the ticks from successfully latching on to their pets.”
She adds that the climate crisis is also playing a role in where you might find ticks.
“Because of the warmer winters and warmer climate, you can consider it almost an extended tick season from early spring until October, depending on where you are in the province.”
Wallin says ticks are very distinct, so you’ll know there’s one on you.
“They’ve got a long mouthpiece that is actually what causes a problem because it embeds in you and you need to be able to remove it by carefully pulling it out, so you’re not leaving a part of it behind,” she said.
“It can leave a red swelling spot from where the tick has been, so you need to be really careful. If you’re not feeling well after finding a tick, talk to your doctor and report it to the health authority.”
Tick bites can cause a range of symptoms, including a rash, fever, fatigue, headaches, aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
“They can carry Lyme disease. The ones we have in British Columbia right now are not the most successful at transmitting Lyme disease, but we need to be careful of that because they can carry some other diseases also.”
