Yes, ticks are still active in fall in Minnesota. In fact, adult blacklegged ticks are most active between September and November and can latch onto hosts any day where the temperature is above freezing, including thaws in December.
Ticks are often associated with warmer weather. So many people think about them in May and June and less in the other months of the year. But that’s a mistake because blacklegged ticks, the ones known for carrying Lyme disease, have two distinct peaks in Minnesota. One is in early summer and the other is in fall.
Nymphal ticks are roughly the size of poppy seeds. They’re so small that they can go unnoticed for long enough to transmit Lyme disease much more often than their adult counterparts. They’re most active from May through July which is when people tend to think about ticks the most. They become a bit quieter when the weather gets hotter.
Adult ticks come later in the fall from about September to November. This is the second peak. They seek out large hosts, usually meaning deer, but sometimes meaning humans when they’re offered a chance. They’re easier to spot than nymphs but they’re still small and perfectly capable of transmitting Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
Something else to keep in mind is that ticks don’t require warmth so much as a lack of cold. They can quest any time the temperature is above freezing. In northeast Minnesota, that means ticks can still be active in October and even November. You can go outside in a January thaw and find a tick on yourself after brushing up against leaves.
Even when the weather is cooler, still do tick checks and remove ticks quickly if you find them on yourself, your kid, or your pet. Tuck pants into socks and use EPA-registered repellent if you plan to be in the woods or working in the yard. Keep your pets on vet-prescribed preventatives as well.
As for your property, you can reduce the odds of tick encounters by mowing grass and trimming back vegetation. Professional tick control can also be helpful if you have an especially bad problem.
If you are tired of finding ticks on yourself, Mosquito Squad of Northeast Minnesota can help. Mosquito Squad treats the zones where ticks quest. This can help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
