Blacklegged Ticks at Beaudry

I just learned today (from a friend in Health Canada) that deer ticks are now established at Beaudry Provincial Park, our favourite place to take our dogs for an off-leash walk and to do some nature photography. Lyme disease is not a pleasant thought. It's just another thing we'll have to watch out for, here in friendly Manitoba. 

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. People become infected with the Lyme disease bacteria when they are bitten by an infected blacklegged tick. I guess we'll have to use a repellent with DEET (on our skin or clothing) or permethrin (on our dogs and our clothing) to protect ourselves next spring and summer.  We started using insecticide-impregnated tick collars on our dogs last summer. We probably should be taking extra precautions on our walks anyways.