Tick Control in Toronto

Yes. Blacklegged ticks are established in Toronto's ravine system, High Park, and many other green spaces. Toronto Public Health conducts annual tick surveillance and has confirmed positive blacklegged tick populations in High Park, the Don Valley, Humber Valley, and Scarborough's Highland Creek and Rouge River areas. Lyme disease is a reportable illness in Ontario and confirmed Toronto cases have increased each year.

Properties adjacent to Toronto's ravine system carry the highest tick exposure risk. This includes areas near the Don Valley (Leaside, East York, Don Mills), Humber Valley (Etobicoke, Islington), High Park (Roncesvalles, Parkdale), Highland Creek and Scarborough Bluffs (Cliffside, Guildwood), and any neighbourhood backing onto wooded or naturalized green space. Even a thin strip of ravine vegetation between a backyard fence and a trail can host tick populations.

The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the species of primary concern in Toronto — it's the only species that transmits Lyme disease, and it's the species Toronto Public Health monitors. American dog ticks are also present in Toronto's parks and green spaces but rarely transmit Lyme disease to humans.

Blacklegged tick nymphs — the life stage responsible for most Lyme disease transmissions in Ontario — are most active from May through July. Adult ticks are active from October through November and again in early spring (March–April) when temperatures rise above 4°C. Nymphs are the most dangerous stage because they're tiny (poppy-seed sized) and often go undetected during tick checks. A May or June treatment specifically targets this peak nymph window.

Two treatments per season cover the full active window: one in late May or early June to target nymph peak activity, and one in August or September for adult tick emergence. Properties in Don Valley, Humber Valley, or Scarborough ravine zones with higher tick pressure may benefit from a third treatment. Each application provides up to 30 days of residual protection.

Yes. Our Health Canada–approved formula is designed for residential property use. We apply it to your property's vegetation — not to any municipal parkland or ravine. Once the product dries (approximately 30 minutes), it does not leach into nearby waterways or harm wildlife. We maintain buffer zones around any sensitive natural areas at your property edge.

Yes. Toronto's Don Valley, Humber River, and extensive ravine system also create significant mosquito pressure each season. Many Toronto homeowners bundle mosquito and tick treatments for complete yard protection. See our Toronto mosquito control service for details, or ask about seasonal bundle pricing when you call.