Distribution of two expanding tick species in Alberta and Western Canada | OCS Science Seminar

April 7, 2026 OCS Science Seminar presented by Dr. Tim Lysyk. Abstract: This presentation will summarize studies on the current distributions of the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, Dermacentor andersoni (Stiles) and American Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) throughout Alberta and Western Canada. These studies were conducted by a team of researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, University of Saskatchewan, and University of Manitoba. The distributions of both species are strongly associated with climate, particularly winter and summer temperatures. Increasing winter precipitation was associated with increased prevalence of both species, but increasing summer precipitation was associated with decreased prevalence of D. andersoni. Ecoregions and soils also influenced the prevalence of each species.