Regional tick guide

Ticks in Alberta

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

View ticks found in this location Explore the Global Tick Hub

Reviewed sources

3

linked tick species

Province

geographic level

CA-AB

location code

3 reviewed species records are currently linked to Alberta.

Introduced, occasional and other records

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 Alberta

Government of Alberta surveillance guidance identifies the Rocky Mountain wood tick in Alberta.

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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 Alberta

Government of Alberta surveillance guidance identifies the American dog tick in Alberta.

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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 Alberta

Government of Alberta surveillance records blacklegged ticks submitted in Alberta, while noting that an established reproducing population has not been found.

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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.

Identify ticksSpecies, life stages and identification guidance Prevent and checkReduce exposure and perform thorough tick checks Remove ticksRemoval methods, tools and common problems Bites, symptoms and healthSourced guidance about bites, symptoms and disease

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