Edmonton and area is seeing an uptick in the presence of blood-sucking ticks, some of which can carry the debilitating Lyme disease, warns a University of Alberta entomologist.
Although the parasites that latch on to humans and animals to feed on blood are known to be found in more rural locations, the tracking app eTick shows their creep into more urban areas, including Edmonton.
Janet Sperling, an entomologist and president of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, said Edmonton offers prime territory for the lurking arachnids.
“We have a lot of parks. We’re famous for our parks,” says Sperling. “Ticks are often going to be found in the river valley, and in those kind of moist, damp areas.”
Ticks emerge around April and lurk through June, going through a four-stage lifecycle, with different species carrying different bacteria. In recent seasons, ticks carrying Lyme disease have been appearing in the city, with a blacklegged tick being reported as recently as April 20. Since that date, around 26 tick incidents have been reported in Edmonton.
Sperling believes that changing climate patterns have made it easier for ticks to thrive in urban areas. And the more Edmonton grows outwards, she said, the more the city encroaches into tick habitats. But the City of Edmonton gets praise from Sperling for the handling of tick season.
“In Edmonton we have excellent entomologists. I am very impressed with the mosquito control and the tick control, they do the very best they can.”
Lyme disease symptoms
However, it can be difficult for physicians to diagnose Lyme disease early on. Symptoms can be flu like and include large red rashes, flu-like symptoms. In later stages, joint pain or facial paralysis can occur.
Health Canada figures from 2024 show Lyme disease diagnosis rising, with 5,809 cases that year nation-wide.
“What’s really missing is translating the knowledge we have, translating that into a really effective public health message,” said Sperling, who believes more and more cases are being contracted in Alberta.
Pets at risk, too
Dog owners are advised to use topical treatments to keep ticks at bay and do thorough checks for the parasites after walks.
While the threat of Edmonton ticks may be largely in the city’s ribbon of river valley, the bugs have been reported as far away from the city centre as Mill Woods.
Dog walkers are advised to wear long-sleeved light clothing in order to help prevent tick attacks.
A giant tick found near the ear on a dog in Edmonton in late May 2026. Handout photo, Postmedia.
Tracking the tick
In order to assess the risk of tick-borne illness in Alberta, the provincial government requests that ticks be reported to the Submit-a-Tick program. This is also how eTick obtains its data.
In 2024, Edmonton made up 8.8 per cent of reported ticks in Alberta, more than the entirety of northern Alberta.
This year, 2,352 ticks have been sent in for testing in Alberta and 12 have come back positive for Lyme disease.
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