Expert predicts 'reasonably large' number of ticks in Saskatchewan

An expert predicts that people in Saskatchewan will be seeing lots of ticks this season.

"Just looking through my window, a tick would be very happy at the moment," said Neil Chilton, who teaches biology at the University of Saskatchewan.

"Given the very mild winter conditions we've had, combined with the weather we've got at the moment, I think we're going to see a reasonably large number of ticks out."

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Chilton said the arachnids thrive in temperatures that range from the high teens tolow 20s.

I think we're going to see a reasonably large number of ticks out.- Nick Chilton

He predicted that residents in southern Saskatchewan should start to see more ticks over the next few weeks, but assuresanyone nervous about thecritters that our province is not typically home to the type that carrylymedisease, even though theycan be spotted from time to time.

There are two types of ticks in the province: The American dog tick, found in eastern Saskatchewan, which disappeararound June; and the Rocky Mountain wood tick, located in the west, which can be seen until late July or early August.

Chilton, whose lab is headquartered in Saskatoon,receivedthe first reports of tick sightings last week. That's only a tad early from the seasonal average, which is the start of May.

However, he said Regina may have seen them earlier.