Heather Wright/The Independent

If you’re picking more ticks off your dogs when you go for a walk in southern Lambton County, don’t be surprised.

Lambton Public Health says the southeastern part of the county, including Dawn-Euphemia and parts of Brooke-Alvinston, have been identified as Established Risk Areas for the Blacklegged Ticks responsible for Lyme Disease.

Over the past few years, Lambton Shores, particularly around Pinery Park, has been known as a hotbed for the Blacklegged Ticks. In 2025, Ontario Public health says 65 ticks were submitted for testing there. There were 17 in the rest of Lambton in 2025.

And the number of people with Lyme Disease is rising across Ontario. Statistics show there have been 165 cases this year already, four in the last week.

People diagnosed with Lyme disease have a fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and fatigue as well as a red bulls-eye rash. Long-term health risks include arthritic, cardiac, and neurological complications.

Lambton Public Health says recent tick dragging efforts uncovered the growing number of ticks in southeast Lambton.

You’re encouraged to actively check for ticks after being outdoors in wooded areas, since removing the bugs with tweezers in 24 hours will prevent any health issues.

Public health officials add you should stick to trails, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks and closed-toed shoes, with pant-legs tucked in during walks in nature. Pets, they say, should have a tick and flea collar.

Officials say you should do a ‘tick check’ after going out on yourself and any pets.

If you find a tick, you can identify if it is a blacklegged tick on the website etick.ca.

For further tips, you can check Lambton Public Health.