When is Tick Season?

The definitive, data-driven resource for understanding tick seasonality across the United States

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Quick Answer: Peak Tick Season by Region

In the United States, tick season varies significantly by region, but peak transmission risk occurs May through August nationwide, with regional variations based on climate, tick species, and local conditions.

🍂 Northeast

Season: March-November

Peak: May-August for nymphs, October-November for adults

🌴 Southeast

Season: February-November, year-round in mild areas

Peak: Extended season with multiple peaks

🌾 Midwest

Season: April-October

Peak: May for adults, June-July for nymphs

🌵 Southwest

Season: Year-round potential in deserts, April-August at elevation

Peak: Variable by elevation and location

🌊 West Coast

Season: March-June primary season

Peak: Mediterranean climate pattern

⛰️ Mountain States

Season: April-August

Peak: Elevation-dependent timing

Interactive Data Dashboard

📊 Regional Activity Heat Map

Interactive map showing monthly tick activity intensity by county across the US, with color coding from green (low) to red (peak activity).

📈 Species-Specific Activity Charts

Interactive timeline charts showing seasonal activity for each major tick species, with toggles for different regions and life stages.

🌡️ Climate Correlation Visualizer

Interactive charts correlating temperature, humidity, and precipitation data with tick activity levels.

⚕️ Disease Risk Calendar

Monthly risk assessment tool showing disease transmission probability by region.

Current Risk Level: HIGH

Major Tick Species and Their Seasonal Patterns

Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Primary Lyme Disease Vector

Geographic Range: Eastern US from Maine to northern Florida, expanding westward to Great Lakes states

Peak Activity Periods:

Adults: October-May (peaks in November and April-May)
Nymphs: May-August (peak June-July) - HIGHEST TRANSMISSION RISK
Larvae: August-September (Northeast), June-July (Upper Midwest)

Disease Risk: Responsible for 62,551 reported Lyme disease cases in 2023 (~476,000 estimated actual cases)

American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Vector

Geographic Range: Widely distributed east of Rocky Mountains, limited western populations

Peak Activity: Mid-April to early September (peak May-June)

Temperature Preferences: Most active on sunny, windless days in warm spring weather

Regional Variations:

Massachusetts: April-August (peak May-June)
Virginia: April-October (peaks May and July)
Georgia: Late March-August (peaks early May, late June)

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

STARI and Ehrlichiosis Vector

Geographic Range: Eastern, southeastern, and south-central US with rapid northern/western expansion

Peak Activity Periods:

Adults: April-August (peak April-June)
Nymphs: March-October (bimodal peaks: May-July and August-September)
Larvae: July-October (peak July-September)

Aggressive Behavior: Unlike other species, lone star ticks actively pursue hosts and can detect movement/CO2 from significant distances.

Western Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes pacificus)

West Coast Lyme Vector

Geographic Range: Pacific Coast states (CA, OR, WA)

Peak Activity:

Adults: Late October-July (peak January-March)
Nymphs: January-October (Northwestern CA), February-June (Central/Southern CA)

3-year life cycle extends seasonal patterns compared to eastern species

Climate Dependency: Activity strongly correlated with coastal fog patterns and Mediterranean climate zones.

Regional Tick Season Breakdown

Northeast Region: The Epicenter of Tick-Borne Disease

Peak Season: Two distinct peaks - March through August (primary) and October-November (secondary)

Dominant Species: Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Disease Burden: Highest in US for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus

Monthly Risk Assessment:

March-April: Moderate risk (adult emergence)
May-August: VERY HIGH RISK (peak nymph activity)
September: Declining risk
October-November: Moderate-high risk (second adult peak)
December-February: Low risk (dormant except above-freezing days)

Southeast Region: Extended Season, Multiple Species

Peak Season: February/March through November (8-9 months active)

Dominant Species: Lone star tick, American dog tick, Gulf Coast tick

Disease Focus: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, STARI, tularemia

Regional Characteristics:

Year-round activity possible in southern areas with mild winters
75% of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases occur in 7 states: AR, MO, NC, OK, VA, AL, TN
Aggressive lone star tick behavior increases encounter rates
Heat and humidity create optimal conditions for extended tick activity

Midwest Region: Expanding Lyme Disease Zone

Peak Season: April through October (spring through fall with winter dormancy)

Primary Species: Blacklegged tick expanding westward, American dog tick

Disease Risk: High for Lyme disease in northern areas, anaplasmosis, babesiosis

State-Specific Patterns:

Wisconsin: Over 3,000 Lyme cases annually; peak activity May
Minnesota: Adults emerge after snow melt; highest anaplasmosis reporting nationally
Michigan: Blacklegged tick populations expanding eastward
Illinois: Northern counties have established deer tick populations

West Coast Region: Mediterranean Climate Influence

Peak Season: Early spring through late summer (March-June primary activity)

Dominant Species: Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus)

Disease Risk: Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, hard tick relapsing fever

Climate-Driven Patterns:

Spring peak: Activity before summer heat and drought conditions
Elevation effects: Higher elevations maintain longer active seasons
Coastal fog: Influences humidity and extends activity in coastal areas
Fire seasons: Wildfire activity affects tick habitat and exposure patterns

Tick Activity by Month and Region

Month	Northeast	Southeast	Midwest	Southwest	West Coast	Mountain
January	Low (0-5%)	Low-Mod (5-15%)	Minimal (0-2%)	Variable (0-20%)	Low (0-10%)	Minimal (0-2%)
February	Low (0-5%)	Moderate (10-25%)	Minimal (0-2%)	Variable (5-25%)	Low-Mod (5-15%)	Minimal (0-2%)
March	Mod (10-25%)	High (25-40%)	Low-Mod (5-15%)	Moderate (10-30%)	Moderate (15-30%)	Low (5-15%)
April	High (30-50%)	Very High (40-60%)	Moderate (15-30%)	High (25-45%)	High (30-50%)	Moderate (15-25%)
May	Very High (50-75%)	Very High (50-70%)	High (35-55%)	High (30-50%)	Peak (40-60%)	High (25-40%)
June	Peak (60-85%)	High (45-65%)	Peak (50-70%)	Moderate (20-40%)	Moderate (25-45%)	High (30-50%)
July	Peak (70-90%)	High (40-60%)	Peak (55-75%)	Low-Mod (15-35%)	Low-Mod (15-35%)	High (35-55%)
August	High (50-75%)	Moderate (30-50%)	High (40-60%)	Low-Mod (10-30%)	Low (10-25%)	Moderate (25-45%)
September	Moderate (25-45%)	Moderate (25-45%)	Moderate (20-40%)	Low-Mod (10-25%)	Low (5-20%)	Low-Mod (15-30%)
October	High (35-55%)	Moderate (20-40%)	Moderate (15-35%)	Low (5-20%)	Low (5-15%)	Low (10-25%)
November	Moderate (15-35%)	Low-Mod (10-25%)	Low-Mod (5-20%)	Low (0-15%)	Low (0-10%)	Minimal (0-10%)
December	Low (0-10%)	Low (5-15%)	Minimal (0-5%)	Variable (0-15%)	Low (0-5%)	Minimal (0-2%)

*Activity levels represent percentage of peak annual activity for each region

Comprehensive Prevention Strategies

🌸 Spring Prevention (March-May)

Preparation and Early Protection

Begin consistent EPA-approved repellent use when temperatures exceed 40°F
DEET 20-30%: 85-89% effective against ticks for 4-8 hours
Picaridin 20%: Comparable efficacy, 8-14 hours protection
Permethrin clothing treatment: 99% tick mortality on contact
Apply professional acaricides mid-May through mid-June

☀️ Summer Prevention (June-August)

Peak Protection During Highest Risk

Daily tick checks mandatory: Full-body inspection
Shower within 2 hours of outdoor exposure
Light-colored, tightly woven clothing with pants tucked into socks
Avoid tall grass/wooded areas during peak activity (dawn/dusk)
Weekly lawn mowing during peak season

🍁 Fall Prevention (September-November)

Second Peak Adult Activity

Adult ticks remain active until sustained freezing temperatures
Second acaricide application: October treatment recommended
Hunting season protection: Enhanced precautions for outdoors
Leaf cleanup provides tick check opportunities
High-heat clothing treatment: 10 minutes in dryer kills all stages

❄️ Winter Prevention (December-February)

Reduced but Not Eliminated Risk

Maintain protection protocols during warm spells >40°F
Adult ticks can be active on any winter day above freezing
Southern regions: Year-round potential activity
Continue veterinary preventatives for pets year-round
Plan and purchase prevention equipment for upcoming season

Cost-Effective Prevention by Risk Level

Low-Risk Scenarios

Annual investment: $150-300

Basic repellents, minimal landscape modification, focus on education

Moderate-Risk Scenarios

Annual investment: $400-800

Professional-grade repellents, partial landscape management, pet preventatives

High-Risk Scenarios

Annual investment: $800-1,500

Professional treatments, complete landscape management, medical monitoring

Disease Transmission Risk by Season

🦠 Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)

Peak months: May-August (67% of cases occur June-August)

Transmission requirement: 24-36 hours attachment (most require >36 hours)

Geographic focus: 94% of cases in 12 northeastern and upper midwestern states

Annual burden: 62,551 reported cases (estimated 476,000 actual cases)

Critical period: Tiny nymphs (poppy seed-sized) most dangerous May-July

🔴 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Rickettsia rickettsii)

Peak months: April-September (peak May-July)

Transmission requirement: 4-6 hours attachment (can occur <1 hour with previously fed ticks)

Geographic focus: 75% of cases in southeastern/south-central states

Annual cases: ~6,000 reported annually

Fatality risk: Most dangerous tick-borne disease if untreated

🩸 Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum)

Peak months: June-July (primary), October-November (secondary peak)

Transmission requirement: 12-24 hours attachment

Geographic focus: Northeast and upper Midwest (Minnesota reports highest numbers)

Case trends: 16-fold increase since 2000 (348 to 5,762 cases by 2017)

Vector: Same blacklegged ticks that transmit Lyme disease

⚡ Powassan Virus

Peak months: April-November (when ticks most active)

Transmission requirement: 15 minutes (fastest transmission of any tick-borne disease)

Geographic focus: Northeast and Great Lakes regions

Annual cases: ~24 nationally (239 cases over past decade)

Mortality risk: 10-15% fatality rate, 50% of survivors have permanent neurological damage

Monthly Disease Risk Assessment

Month	Risk Level	Primary Concerns	Recommended Actions
January-February	LOW RISK	Minimal tick activity except warm days >45°F	Plan prevention strategies for upcoming season
March	MODERATE RISK	Adult tick emergence begins	Begin consistent repellent use
April	MODERATE-HIGH RISK	Adult tick activity peaks, RMSF transmission begins	Enhanced protection, landscape management
May	HIGH RISK	Peak adult activity, nymphal emergence begins	Maximum protection protocols
June	VERY HIGH RISK	Peak nymphal activity begins - highest transmission risk	Daily tick checks mandatory, avoid high-risk areas
July	VERY HIGH RISK	Peak nymphal activity continues	Continue maximum protection, frequent inspections
August	HIGH RISK	Continued nymphal activity, larval emergence	Maintain vigilance, heat considerations
September	MODERATE-HIGH RISK	Nymphal activity declines, adult emergence begins	Continued protection, hunting season prep
October	MODERATE-HIGH RISK	Adult tick activity peaks again, anaplasmosis second peak	Second acaricide application, hunting precautions
November	MODERATE RISK	Adult tick activity continues until hard frost	Weather-dependent protection
December	LOW RISK	Minimal activity except warm spells	Equipment maintenance, next year planning

Interactive Tools and Resources

📍

Real-Time Tick Activity Tracker

Access current tick activity levels for your specific location based on recent weather data and seasonal patterns.

🎯

Personal Risk Calculator

Answer questions about your location, activities, and exposure to receive customized prevention recommendations.

🔍

Tick Identification Tool

Upload photos of ticks for species identification assistance and region-specific disease risk information.

💰

Prevention Cost Calculator

Estimate costs for different levels of tick prevention programs based on your specific situation and risk level.

🩺

Disease Symptom Checker

Interactive tool to assess tick-borne disease symptoms and determine when to seek medical attention.

🔔

Weather-Based Activity Alerts

Climate Factors Driving Tick Seasonality

🌡️ Temperature Thresholds

Minimum Activity: 39-45°F (4-7°C)
Optimal Range: 77-86°F (25-30°C)
Heat Stress: Above 90-95°F (32-35°C)
Winter Activity: Above 32°F (0°C)

💧 Humidity Requirements

Optimal: >80% relative humidity
Critical Threshold: 80% RH for survival
Desiccation Risk: Below 70% RH
Species Variation: Blacklegged ticks need >85% RH

🌧️ Precipitation Effects

Positive: Creates humid microhabitats
Supports: Host animal populations
Negative: Flooding kills through drowning
Drought: Reduces tick populations significantly

🌍 Climate Change Impacts

Extended Seasons: 2-4 weeks longer annually
Earlier Emergence: 1-2 weeks per decade
Range Expansion: 50-200 km northward/decade
Elevation Shifts: 100-300 m upslope/decade