Heading to cottage country? Here’s everything you need to protect against ticks, according to experts

Heading into the wilderness come summertime is always a good idea; the crisp fresh air and abundance of Canadian national parks, hiking trails and campgrounds from coast to coast make it easy to get out and connect to nature. That said, anyone who visits cottage country regularly knows the importance of tick prevention.

Although most tick bites are harmless, Canada has a lot of deer ticks and wood ticks — which can carry Lyme disease and other harmful diseases — so taking extra care to protect against a potential bite is vital.

According to Paul Johnson, founder of the Tick and Mosquito Project, if you’re planning on spending time in a heavily wooded or grassy area, it’s key to exercise vigilance and prepare properly in order to avoid ticks as much as possible.

“Everyone knows to use repellents when they are in the forest or long grass, but you should also be vigilant on trails where you might not expect to find them,” Johnson says. “Ticks often wait above you on trees or branches and drop down on you as you walk by, so it is not all about the ground cover.”

Whether you’re heading out to a remote country home, planning a hike through the woods, or just want to ensure your bases are covered in terms of tick prevention and removal during your day to day, here’s everything you’ll need to prevent and protect against ticks throughout the summer, written by Kaitlyn McInnis.

LAST UPDATED

October 21, 2024

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

MSN

Media Mentions from MSN

The best in online content with the best of Microsoft services to help you stay informed and do more!

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

Jennifer Pharr Davis
Hiker, Speaker, Author

Media Mentions

“Our mission is for everyone in the world to have access to clean water,” maintained Beth.

KNA
KNA Press

Media Mentions

We tested four portable water filters and recommend the Sawyer Mini Water Filter.

Doug Mahoney and Joshua Lyon
Staff Writers