FleaDates › Tick season › Utah
Mountain West · UT
When are ticks active in Utah?
Ticks in Utah are typically active mid-February to late November, heaviest Apr–Oct — and one warm spell can wake them well ahead of spring.
Ticks to know in Utah
The Rocky Mountain wood tick is the tick to watch from St. George to Logan, emerging early enough that a mid-February walk in the southern desert can turn one up, and it overlaps with American dog ticks through spring and summer. The heavier weeks run May into September, ease through October, and close out in late November. Brushy trails in the Wasatch foothills and along the Virgin River corridor deserve a careful once-over afterward, ears and collar line included.
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 Utah
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 32°F |
| February | Low | 36.7°F |
| March | Moderate | 46.2°F |
| April | High | 53.1°F |
| May | Peak | 62.5°F |
| June | Peak | 72°F |
| July | Peak | 80.3°F |
| August | Peak | 78.4°F |
| September | Peak | 68.6°F |
| October | High | 55.3°F |
| November | Moderate | 42.3°F |
| December | Quiet | 32.6°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 3 weather stations near Utah'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. Utah flea season typically runs late March to early November — see the Utah flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Utah?
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 Utah?
The species dog owners most often meet in Utah: Rocky Mountain wood tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick. The Rocky Mountain wood tick is the tick to watch from St. George to Logan, emerging early enough that a mid-February walk in the southern desert can turn one up, and it overlaps with American dog ticks through spring and summer. The heavier weeks run May into September, ease through October, and close out in late November. Brushy trails in the Wasatch foothills and along the Virgin River corridor deserve a careful once-over afterward, ears and collar line included.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Utah?
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 Utah?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Utah that's late March to early November. See the Utah flea season page for that month-by-month picture.