FleaDates › Tick season › Kansas
Midwest · KS
When are ticks active in Kansas?
Ticks in Kansas are typically active mid-February to early December, heaviest Apr–Oct — and adult blacklegged ticks can surface on any mild winter day.
Ticks to know in Kansas
Eastern Kansas is genuinely lone star tick country — the Flint Hills and wooded creek bottoms produce them in numbers — while American dog ticks are found statewide and blacklegged (deer) ticks stay close to the eastern river woodlands. Peak pressure runs May through September, and the shoulders here are long: ticks can be out as early as February and linger into December whenever the weather turns mild.
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 Kansas
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 32°F |
| February | Low | 36.1°F |
| March | Moderate | 46°F |
| April | High | 55.4°F |
| May | Peak | 65.5°F |
| June | Peak | 75.4°F |
| July | Peak | 80.1°F |
| August | Peak | 78.3°F |
| September | Peak | 69.9°F |
| October | High | 57.4°F |
| November | Moderate | 44.5°F |
| December | Low | 34.4°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 3 weather stations near Kansas'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. Kansas flea season typically runs late March to early November — see the Kansas flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Kansas?
Around mid-February in a typical year, once temperatures clear roughly 40°F — noticeably earlier than flea season. A February thaw can bring ticks out ahead of schedule.
What ticks live in Kansas?
The species dog owners most often meet in Kansas: lone star tick, American dog tick, blacklegged (deer) tick. Eastern Kansas is genuinely lone star tick country — the Flint Hills and wooded creek bottoms produce them in numbers — while American dog ticks are found statewide and blacklegged (deer) ticks stay close to the eastern river woodlands. Peak pressure runs May through September, and the shoulders here are long: ticks can be out as early as February and linger into December whenever the weather turns mild.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Kansas?
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 Kansas?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Kansas that's late March to early November. See the Kansas flea season page for that month-by-month picture.