When do ticks start to become active? Earlier than you’d think!

On Long Island, ticks don’t just show up in summer. They often become active in March, as soon as temperatures regularly rise above 40°F. Mild winters, damp leaf litter, and plenty of wildlife mean blacklegged (deer) ticks and other species can start questing for hosts long before the hot weather arrives, even with our recent cold snap.

Tick season here is really a long stretch, not a short window. Adult deer ticks wake up on mild days in late winter and early spring. In late spring and summer, tiny nymphs—responsible for many Lyme disease cases—are active, along with lone star and American dog ticks. In fall, adult deer ticks surge again and stay active until it’s consistently below freezing. Even in winter, a warm, snow-free day can bring some activity.

In March, you’ll most often encounter ticks along wooded trails, forest edges, leaf litter, brush piles, and overgrown yard borders, especially where deer, mice, and birds are common. Even tidy yards can have ticks if they border woods or attract wildlife.

You don’t have to avoid the outdoors, but you should treat March as the start of tick season. Use an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin, consider permethrin-treated clothing, wear long pants and sleeves when you can, and choose light-colored fabrics to spot ticks more easily. After spending time outside, check your body carefully—behind knees, around the waist, under arms, around ears, and at the hairline—and shower soon after. Check pets daily and keep them on vet-recommended tick prevention.

In early spring, clean up leaf piles and brush, keep grass trimmed, and, if possible, create a wood-chip or gravel border between woods and lawn to reduce tick habitat. If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, clean the area, note the date, and watch for rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms. On Long Island, once March brings regular mild days, tick season has already begun, so a few simple habits can make a big difference in staying protected.