Winter signs that ticks are present or active

• Ticks found on pets or clothing after mild winter days (above about 40°F/4°C).
• Small, flat, dark “seed-like” bugs crawling on coats, car seats, or floors after outdoor time.
• Attached ticks in warm, hidden body spots (ears, hairline, armpits, waist, groin, behind knees, between toes).
• Pets scratching or a felt “bump” that turns into a gray, bean-shaped tick as it feeds.
• Unexplained winter flu-like illness (fever, chills, fatigue, headache, joint aches) or a spreading rash after outdoor exposure.
• Finding ticks near entryways, pet bedding, or baseboards after walks on leaf-covered trails or yards.

Why ticks can be active in winter

• Blacklegged (deer) ticks quest whenever temperatures rise above freezing, especially on sunny, wind-sheltered days.
• They overwinter alive in leaf litter, brush piles, and along deer or rodent paths; warm spells wake them.
• Snow cover insulates leaf litter, helping ticks survive cold snaps.

Where to look closely

• People: scalp, behind ears, neck, armpits, waistband, groin, backs of knees, ankles.
• Pets: ears (inside/edge), around eyes, under collar, armpits, between toes, groin, tail base.

What to do if you find signs

• Remove with fine-tipped tweezers close to skin; steady pull. Clean bite with soap/water.
• Save the tick in a sealed bag with date/location; consider testing locally.
• Call a clinician/vet if symptoms develop or attachment may have been >24–36 hours.
• Keep using pet preventives year-round; do tick checks and tumble-dry clothes on high 10 minutes after outings.

Best way to get rid of winter ticks: keep control going year‑round—clean up leaf litter and brush, treat pets monthly, wear repellent and permethrin‑treated clothing, dry clothes on high heat after outings, manage mice/deer, and call a pro if you see ticks indoors.

Ticks don’t die in winter. Many stay active anytime temps rise above about 37°F or in warm leaf piles and sheds. Use these steps:

Outdoor actions

• Rake and remove leaf litter, tall grass, and brush where ticks hide; clear around stone walls and woodpiles.
• Create a 3‑foot gravel or wood‑chip barrier between lawn and woods; keep play sets and seating inside the lawn, in sun.
• Store wood off the ground and away from the house; prune lower branches to let sun dry the ground.
• Reduce mice: seal gaps larger than a pencil, tidy bird seed, use closed bins; consider permethrin tick tubes in late fall/winter per label.
• Discourage deer: plant deer‑resistant species, use fencing or repellents.
• If pressure is high, have a licensed pro apply a labeled winter/dormant‑season acaricide to tick zones on thawed days.

Protect people and pets

• Pets: keep vet‑approved tick prevention all winter (e.g., isoxazoline chewables or Seresto collar); check coats after walks.
• People: use EPA repellents (DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus). Treat clothing/boots with 0.5% permethrin (never skin).
• After outdoor time: shower within 2 hours; tumble clothes on high heat 10 minutes before washing.
• Remove attached ticks with fine tweezers: grasp at skin, pull straight out, clean with alcohol.

Indoors

• Vacuum baseboards, pet areas, and entry rugs; launder pet bedding hot.
• Seal gaps at doors, foundations, and utility lines to block rodent hosts.
• If you find multiple ticks indoors, get a professional inspection and treatment plan.