FleaDates › Tick season › Georgia
Southeast · GA
When are ticks active in Georgia?
Georgia ticks don't take a real winter break: average temperatures stay above the ~40°F questing threshold in every month, with pressure heaviest Mar–Nov.
Ticks to know in Georgia
Lone star ticks dominate Georgia's woods and field edges, biting aggressively from early spring onward, with American dog ticks common in the same sunny, grassy habitat. Blacklegged ticks fill the cool-season gap — they're a big reason Georgia's tick window never truly closes — and Gulf Coast ticks show up regularly across the southern half of the state. The hard stretch runs March through November, so a long tick season deserves an equally long prevention plan.
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 Georgia
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | Moderate | 47.6°F |
| February | Moderate | 51.2°F |
| March | High | 57.7°F |
| April | Peak | 64.7°F |
| May | Peak | 72.7°F |
| June | Peak | 79.3°F |
| July | Peak | 82.3°F |
| August | Peak | 81.4°F |
| September | Peak | 76.3°F |
| October | Peak | 66.3°F |
| November | High | 56.1°F |
| December | Moderate | 49.8°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 4 weather stations near Georgia'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. Georgia flea season typically runs late January to late December — see the Georgia flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Georgia?
It never fully stops. Georgia'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 Mar–Nov.
What ticks live in Georgia?
The species dog owners most often meet in Georgia: lone star tick, American dog tick, blacklegged (deer) tick, Gulf Coast tick. Lone star ticks dominate Georgia's woods and field edges, biting aggressively from early spring onward, with American dog ticks common in the same sunny, grassy habitat. Blacklegged ticks fill the cool-season gap — they're a big reason Georgia's tick window never truly closes — and Gulf Coast ticks show up regularly across the southern half of the state. The hard stretch runs March through November, so a long tick season deserves an equally long prevention plan.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Georgia?
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 Georgia?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Georgia that's late January to late December. See the Georgia flea season page for that month-by-month picture.