A growing number of local pet owners have reported finding ticks on cats and dogs in recent weeks.
Dr. Hugh Whitney is a retired chief veterinary officer with the province and contributed a segment on ticks to Stouts, Millers and Forky-Tails, a Boulder Publications book on local insects.
He says most ticks are specific to certain hosts like rabbit, mouse and squirrel, but pets can come into contact with them by pursuing prey.
The ticks generally live around the nest or burrow of their host, and it’s not unusual to see a mouse or rabbit tick on a cat or dog.
He says dogs and cats follow their nose to the smell of potential prey animals, allowing them to come into contact with the ticks around a nest or burrow.