Ticks can be active even in the winter!

 

You may be wondering why ticks are an important topic in the middle of winter. As you may have guessed, ticks can remain active in winter months—and not just in the Southeast!

 

What are ticks?

Ticks are parasites that hide in grass and shrubs, waiting to jump on any creature that passes by—including your dog. They suck blood from their hosts and can carry and transmit dangerous bacteria to your dog’s body. These bacteria live inside the cells and can potentially cause many diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis (dog tick fever or dog fever), ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Are ticks really active in winter?

Ticks are found across the United States. The geographic distribution for some species is expanding as a result of climate change, deforestation and the changing migration patterns of deer, birds and rodents. In places with milder winters, some tick species are active all year round. In colder areas where temperatures drop and snow falls, ticks overwinter in leaf litter and ground debris.

Unfortunately, ticks aren’t killed by winter’s cold, but simply go dormant or become inactive. As soon as the temperature warms up above freezing, they become active and start seeking food—in other words, looking for a warm body to get a meal from.

Ticks may be out searching for a host any time temperatures rise above freezing, even if there’s still snow or ice on the ground. This means if the temperatures are above zero for just an hour or two on a snowy winter day, ticks are fully active, looking for an unsuspecting passerby. 

Protecting your pets

Ticks are active all year round whenever it’s above freezing, but they are especially active in the fall and spring as the temperatures are changing between summer and winter. 

Since ticks love any temperature above freezing, it’s best to keep your dog on a year-round flea and tick preventive. 

For added protection, do a tick check after every walk—even on a mild winter day. 

Browse our veterinarian-approved flea and tick prevention selection! >>