FleaDates › Tick season › Texas
South Central · TX
When are ticks active in Texas?
Texas ticks don't take a real winter break: average temperatures stay above the ~40°F questing threshold in every month, with pressure heaviest Feb–Nov.
Ticks to know in Texas
Lone star ticks own the eastern piney woods and the Hill Country oaks around Austin and San Antonio, and they bite readily at every life stage; Gulf Coast ticks work the coastal prairie grass, and brown dog ticks flourish in warm homes, kennels, and yards, where they can set up shop indoors and stay. Pressure is already climbing by February and holds high from April clear through October, with only a modest step down in the shortest days of the year. After time in brush or unmowed grass, check your dog's head, ears, and between the toes, and mention any attached tick to your vet — Texas ticks carry illnesses worth catching early.
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 Texas
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | Moderate | 50.3°F |
| February | High | 54.6°F |
| March | High | 61.4°F |
| April | Peak | 68.3°F |
| May | Peak | 76.2°F |
| June | Peak | 83°F |
| July | Peak | 85.2°F |
| August | Peak | 85.1°F |
| September | Peak | 79.4°F |
| October | Peak | 70°F |
| November | High | 59.1°F |
| December | Moderate | 51.6°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 5 weather stations near Texas'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. Texas flea season typically runs year-round — see the Texas flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Texas?
It never fully stops. Texas'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 Feb–Nov.
What ticks live in Texas?
The species dog owners most often meet in Texas: lone star tick, Gulf Coast tick, brown dog tick, American dog tick. Lone star ticks own the eastern piney woods and the Hill Country oaks around Austin and San Antonio, and they bite readily at every life stage; Gulf Coast ticks work the coastal prairie grass, and brown dog ticks flourish in warm homes, kennels, and yards, where they can set up shop indoors and stay. Pressure is already climbing by February and holds high from April clear through October, with only a modest step down in the shortest days of the year. After time in brush or unmowed grass, check your dog's head, ears, and between the toes, and mention any attached tick to your vet — Texas ticks carry illnesses worth catching early.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Texas?
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 Texas?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Texas that's year-round. See the Texas flea season page for that month-by-month picture.