Regional tick guide

Ticks in Saskatchewan

Explore reviewed tick occurrence records for Saskatchewan, with links to identification profiles, evidence and practical guidance.

Reviewed sources

4

linked tick species

Province

geographic level

CA-SK

location code

4 reviewed species records are currently linked to Saskatchewan.

Introduced, occasional and other records

Magnified dorsal view of a Dermacentor albipictus winter tick larva

Winter tick

Dermacentor albipictus

Present Dermacentor hard_tick Saskatchewan

Government of Saskatchewan lists the winter tick among ticks found in Saskatchewan.

Quick view

A one-host Dermacentor species widely known as the winter tick. Human encounters are reported, while health claims require association-specific evidence.

Identification:

A hard tick in the genus Dermacentor. Species confirmation requires examination of diagnostic morphology; photographs, host and location alone may be insufficient.

Hosts: Humans, Horses

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Adult female Dermacentor andersoni on the left and adult male on the right with scutum differences marked

Rocky Mountain wood tick

Also known as: Rocky Mountain tick

Dermacentor andersoni

Present Dermacentor hard_tick Saskatchewan

Government of Saskatchewan lists the Rocky Mountain wood tick among ticks found in Saskatchewan.

Quick view

A hard tick of the Rocky Mountain states and southwestern Canada. Adults are the principal stage associated with pathogen transmission to humans.

Also known as: Rocky Mountain tick

Identification:

Adults are ornate Dermacentor ticks with short mouthparts, eyes and festoons. Females have a cream-patterned anterior scutum; males show pale mottling across most of the dorsum.

Hosts: Humans, Small mammals, Large mammals, Livestock, Dogs

Habitats: Rocky Mountain rangeland, Grassland and shrubland

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Adult male and female Dermacentor variabilis American dog ticks on a blade of grass

American dog tick

Also known as: Wood tick

Dermacentor variabilis

Present Dermacentor hard_tick Saskatchewan

Government of Saskatchewan lists the American dog tick among ticks found in Saskatchewan.

Quick view

A widespread North American hard tick. Adults commonly bite dogs and humans, while larvae and nymphs feed mainly on small mammals.

Also known as: Wood tick

Identification:

Adults have short mouthparts, eyes and festoons, with pale ornamentation on the dorsal shield. Females have a pale patterned scutum at the front; males have ornamentation across most of the dorsum.

Hosts: Humans, Dogs, Small mammals, Large mammals

Habitats: Woodland edges and trails, Grassland and shrubland

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Engorged adult female Ixodes scapularis blacklegged tick viewed from the side

Blacklegged tick

Also known as: Deer tick, Bear tick

Ixodes scapularis

Rare Ixodes hard_tick Saskatchewan

Government of Saskatchewan reports blacklegged ticks in very low numbers in the province.

Quick view

A widespread eastern United States hard tick and major human-biting vector. Nymphs and adult females are most often reported on people, although larvae also bite humans.

Also known as: Deer tick, Bear tick

Identification:

Adult females typically have a dark scutum and legs contrasting with an orange-red posterior body when unfed. Adult males appear more uniformly dark because the scutum covers most of the dorsum. Ixodes ticks lack eyes and festoons and have the anal groove anterior to the anus.

Hosts: Humans, White-tailed deer, Small mammals, Birds, Lizards

Habitats: Woodland, Woodland edges and trails

Photographs and visible features may be insufficient for definitive identification.

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Practical tick guidance

Related guidance

Use these VuxLore® resources alongside the location records and species profiles above.

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