FleaDates › Tick season › Arkansas
Southeast · AR
When are ticks active in Arkansas?
Arkansas ticks don't take a real winter break: average temperatures stay above the ~40°F questing threshold in every month, with pressure heaviest Apr–Oct.
Ticks to know in Arkansas
Few states carry a heavier lone star tick load than Arkansas — in the Ozarks and river bottoms they can find a dog within minutes during the April-to-October peak. American dog ticks patrol field edges through the same warm months, blacklegged ticks take over the cool season, and Gulf Coast ticks turn up in the southern counties, leaving some tick activity on the calendar in every month. Check your dog thoroughly after any hike here, even a winter one.
Wherever the calendar sits this month, the habit that actually catches ticks is the after-walk check: ears, collar line, armpits, between the toes. Prevention plus checks beats either alone.
Month-by-month tick activity in Arkansas
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | Low | 39.4°F |
| February | Moderate | 43.6°F |
| March | Moderate | 51.9°F |
| April | High | 60.5°F |
| May | Peak | 68.9°F |
| June | Peak | 77.2°F |
| July | Peak | 81.3°F |
| August | Peak | 80.6°F |
| September | Peak | 73.1°F |
| October | High | 61.8°F |
| November | Moderate | 50.4°F |
| December | Moderate | 41.8°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 3 weather stations near Arkansas's larger cities, using the ~40°F activity threshold reported in published tick research. Real years run early or late with the weather.
Fleas peak later. Arkansas flea season typically runs early March to late November — see the Arkansas flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Arkansas?
It never fully stops. Arkansas's average temperatures sit above the ~40°F questing threshold all year, so tick checks and prevention are a twelve-month routine, with extra vigilance Apr–Oct.
What ticks live in Arkansas?
The species dog owners most often meet in Arkansas: lone star tick, American dog tick, blacklegged (deer) tick, Gulf Coast tick. Few states carry a heavier lone star tick load than Arkansas — in the Ozarks and river bottoms they can find a dog within minutes during the April-to-October peak. American dog ticks patrol field edges through the same warm months, blacklegged ticks take over the cool season, and Gulf Coast ticks turn up in the southern counties, leaving some tick activity on the calendar in every month. Check your dog thoroughly after any hike here, even a winter one.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Arkansas?
Yes. Ticks overwinter under leaf litter and snow rather than dying off, and mild spells wake them — which is why veterinary organizations recommend year-round parasite prevention. The calendar shows when pressure peaks, not when protection can lapse.
What about fleas in Arkansas?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Arkansas that's early March to late November. See the Arkansas flea season page for that month-by-month picture.