FleaDates › Tick season › Vermont
Northeast · VT
When are ticks active in Vermont?
Ticks in Vermont are typically active early April to mid-November, heaviest May–Sep — and adult blacklegged ticks can surface on any mild winter day.
Ticks to know in Vermont
Blacklegged ticks have pushed steadily north through Vermont and are now the state's dominant tick, active from early April to mid-November with the heaviest questing May through September. Pressure runs strongest in the lower valleys — the Champlain and Connecticut River corridors — where the deer and mice that sustain them are plentiful. American dog ticks add summer pressure in old fields and along brushy fence lines, and one mild November day can still put an adult blacklegged tick on a hiking dog.
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 Vermont
| Month | Typical activity | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 18.8°F |
| February | Quiet | 20.9°F |
| March | Quiet | 30.1°F |
| April | Moderate | 43.3°F |
| May | High | 55.9°F |
| June | Peak | 64.7°F |
| July | Peak | 69.5°F |
| August | Peak | 67.8°F |
| September | High | 60.1°F |
| October | Moderate | 47.9°F |
| November | Low | 36.8°F |
| December | Quiet | 25.7°F |
Estimates from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), averaged across 2 weather stations near Vermont'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. Vermont flea season typically runs late April to mid-October — see the Vermont flea season page.
Frequently asked questions
When does tick season start in Vermont?
Around early April 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 Vermont?
The species dog owners most often meet in Vermont: blacklegged (deer) tick, American dog tick. Blacklegged ticks have pushed steadily north through Vermont and are now the state's dominant tick, active from early April to mid-November with the heaviest questing May through September. Pressure runs strongest in the lower valleys — the Champlain and Connecticut River corridors — where the deer and mice that sustain them are plentiful. American dog ticks add summer pressure in old fields and along brushy fence lines, and one mild November day can still put an adult blacklegged tick on a hiking dog.
Do I need tick prevention in winter in Vermont?
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 Vermont?
Fleas run on a warmer calendar — in Vermont that's late April to mid-October. See the Vermont flea season page for that month-by-month picture.