Ticks cannot survive for a long time in direct sun, so they stay in humid, shaded places instead. That's why they tend to be worse in Los Angeles when it's cooler outside, unlike most of the rest of the country.
Ticks need some humidity to survive, so not all dry brush is a good habitat. Ticks will have a rough time in open chaparral baking in the summer sun. But shaded brush is a different story, as is leaf litter and low vegetation. Protected areas beneath trees can stay cooler and more humid even when the rest of the landscape looks dry.
This is why it’s important to be careful around trail edges. Western blacklegged ticks can wait in vegetation for a host to pass by, which hopefully doesn’t mean you. They can also wait on logs and stumps, which is something to think about before you sit down.
Tick season in Los Angeles also doesn’t go the way most people expect. Western blacklegged ticks are generally more active during the cooler and wetter part of the year. Adults are most active from late fall through spring, while nymphs are more common in spring and early summer. The hottest part of the year is not the peak season.
Lyme disease isn’t very common in Los Angeles, but you can still catch it. It makes sense to take certain commonsense measures to reduce your odds of encountering ticks all the same. Stay toward the center of trails and avoid pushing through brush along the edges. Wear long pants and use an EPA-registered tick repellent. Consider permethrin-treated clothing if you spend a lot of time hiking. After you go inside, check yourself and your kids after being outdoors, and dogs too. If you remove ticks quickly, your odds of falling ill with a tickborne disease are much lower.
If ticks are a concern on your property, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded edges and leaf litter where ticks wait for a host. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
