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Tick season, state by state
Ticks wake earlier and stay later than fleas — many start questing at about 40°F. This map colors each state by how much of the year ticks stay active there; click through for the calendar and the local species.
Every state's tick calendar
- Alabama — year-round
- Alaska — mid-April to mid-October
- Arizona — year-round
- Arkansas — year-round
- California — year-round
- Colorado — late February to late November
- Connecticut — mid-March to early December
- Delaware — mid-February to mid-December
- Florida — year-round
- Georgia — year-round
- Hawaii — year-round
- Idaho — early March to mid-November
- Illinois — early March to late November
- Indiana — early March to early December
- Iowa — mid-March to mid-November
- Kansas — mid-February to early December
- Kentucky — early February to mid-December
- Louisiana — year-round
- Maine — early April to mid-November
- Maryland — mid-February to late December
- Massachusetts — mid-March to late November
- Michigan — late March to mid-November
- Minnesota — late March to early November
- Mississippi — year-round
- Missouri — mid-February to early December
- Montana — late March to early November
- Nebraska — early March to mid-November
- Nevada — late January to mid-December
- New Hampshire — late March to late November
- New Jersey — late February to mid-December
- New Mexico — late January to mid-December
- New York — mid-March to early December
- North Carolina — year-round
- North Dakota — early April to early November
- Ohio — early March to early December
- Oklahoma — nearly year-round, with a brief midwinter lull
- Oregon — year-round
- Pennsylvania — early March to early December
- Rhode Island — mid-March to early December
- South Carolina — year-round
- South Dakota — late March to early November
- Tennessee — year-round
- Texas — year-round
- Utah — mid-February to late November
- Vermont — early April to mid-November
- Virginia — year-round
- Washington — mid-February to late November
- West Virginia — mid-February to mid-December
- Wisconsin — late March to mid-November
- Wyoming — late March to early November
Fleas run warmer and later — see flea season by state.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start?
Earlier than most people think. Many ticks begin questing once temperatures clear roughly 40°F — weeks before flea season — and adult blacklegged ticks will hunt on any mild midwinter day. In much of the South, tick activity never truly stops.
Which ticks should dog owners actually worry about?
It depends on the state: blacklegged (deer) ticks carry Lyme in the East and upper Midwest, lone star ticks dominate the Southeast, American dog ticks are widespread east of the Rockies, Rocky Mountain wood ticks take over in the intermountain West, and brown dog ticks thrive in hot climates — indoors included. Each state page lists the species that matter there.
Do ticks die off in winter?
Mostly they pause. Snow and leaf litter insulate them nicely, and adult blacklegged ticks resume hunting whenever a winter day turns mild. That's why the tick calendar rarely drops to zero — and why vets recommend keeping dogs on tick prevention through the cold months too.
How are these tick season windows estimated?
From NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) near each state's major cities, crossed with the ~40°F activity threshold reported in published tick research. They're climate-based estimates of outdoor pressure; individual years and microclimates vary.