Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) infestation on small mammals in southeastern Manitoba

Nymphs and larvae of  blacklegged tick(s) (BLT) Ixodes scapularis parasitize small mammals to obtain their blood meal. In areas of the United States where BLTs are endemic, infestation parameters on small mammals are well known. In contrast, these parameters remain unstudied in  BLT endemic areas of Manitoba, where blacklegged ticks are a relatively new occurrence. To determine BLT infestation parameters, we trapped small mammals in two provincial parks in Southeastern Manitoba on a biweekly basis from June to October 2015.