FleaDates › Tick season › Florida
Southeast · FL
When are ticks active in Florida?
Florida ticks don't take a real winter break: average temperatures stay above the ~40°F questing threshold in every month, with pressure heaviest all year.
Ticks to know in Florida
Florida's ticks work the same endless calendar as its fleas, and the brown dog tick is the special local menace — it thrives indoors and in kennels and can establish itself in any month. Outdoors, lone star and American dog ticks stay busy nearly year-round, while Gulf Coast ticks are a regular find in brushy coastal areas. With no cold season to knock numbers back, tick checks belong in the daily routine every month of the year.
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 Florida
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | High | 61.5°F |
| February | Peak | 64.3°F |
| March | Peak | 67.9°F |
| April | Peak | 72.8°F |
| May | Peak | 77.8°F |
| June | Peak | 81.7°F |
| July | Peak | 83.2°F |
| August | Peak | 83.1°F |
| September | Peak | 81.4°F |
| October | Peak | 76.2°F |
| November | Peak | 69°F |
| December | Peak | 64.3°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 4 weather stations near Florida'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. Florida flea season typically runs year-round — see the Florida flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Florida?
It never fully stops. Florida'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 all year.
What ticks live in Florida?
The species dog owners most often meet in Florida: brown dog tick, lone star tick, American dog tick, Gulf Coast tick. Florida's ticks work the same endless calendar as its fleas, and the brown dog tick is the special local menace — it thrives indoors and in kennels and can establish itself in any month. Outdoors, lone star and American dog ticks stay busy nearly year-round, while Gulf Coast ticks are a regular find in brushy coastal areas. With no cold season to knock numbers back, tick checks belong in the daily routine every month of the year.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Florida?
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 Florida?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Florida that's year-round. See the Florida flea season page for that month-by-month picture.