Ticks survive Michigan winters by going dormant and sheltering under leaf litter, snow, and debris. This insulates them from the worst of the cold, and helps them live until the temperature climbs above freezing, at which point they can become active again.
People assume Michigan's brutal winters freeze the tick population. In reality, ticks boast incredible cold-weather endurance. And studying this unusual resilience shows part of why they’re so easily able to take over in the spring.
When cold weather comes, ticks go dormant. They’re able to survive through subfreezing temperatures because they tuck themselves into warmer microclimates. You can find these in leaf litter, soil, and other protected nooks. Even snow, of all things, can help them survive because enough of it can act like a blanket. Ticks also have the ability to produce natural antifreeze-like compounds that help them even better tolerate the cold.
Every reason listed above proves it: winter weather does not eliminate tick activity. Adult blacklegged ticks can wake back up any time temperatures climb above freezing. A midwinter thaw triggers them to seek a host. Instead of dying in the cold, these pests survive by pausing between warm spells. If there is a warm stretch in January, ticks can and will bite you.
The most important thing to take away from this is that ticks are not a summer-only problem. It’s worth staying tick-aware even on mild winter and early spring days. It’s also a good idea to keep pets on year-round preventatives. The population that survives the winter, after all, is the one that gives rise to all the ticks of spring and summer.
If you’re tired of ticks taking over your lawn just because it’s a little warm in the winter, Mosquito Squad of Metro Detroit can help. Mosquito Squad provides tick control that accounts for their year-round persistence. This can help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
