They are tiny, they bite, and they carry serious diseases. Ticks are the kind of pests that can make even a backyard adventure feel a little risky.

But are ticks truly a year-round concern in Rochester? Do ticks survive in winter? Thankfully, in the Rochester area, ticks usually go dormant during the winter months.

Let’s explore:

Where Ticks Go in the Winter
Questions About Tick Season
How to Protect Your Home, Pets, and Family

Do Ticks Survive in Winter?

When temperatures drop and snow starts to fall, you might assume that ticks die off with the cold. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Ticks are resilient pests, and while they aren’t active in the winter months, they don’t simply disappear. Instead, they shift into survival mode, waiting out the season until conditions are right for them to resurface.

Where Do Ticks Go in the Winter?

Just because you don’t see ticks crawling around in January doesn’t mean they’ve vanished. In fact, ticks are built to withstand winter conditions, and in places like Rochester, they follow a fairly predictable pattern of dormancy.

When the first hard freeze hits, often in late fall, ticks become inactive. They don’t die off, but instead hunker down and enter a state of dormancy. This period typically lasts all winter long, until consistent warm weather returns in early to mid-spring. In Rochester, that means ticks are typically hidden from November through March — about three to five months of the year.

Your Questions About Tick Season Answered

It’s completely normal to feel uneasy about ticks. Not only are they a nuisance, but they also carry diseases that put both humans and our furry friends at risk. Even without the health concerns, they are just simply unpleasant to deal with. If you’ve ever pulled a tick off your dog after a hike or worried about them hiding in your backyard, you fully know how unsettling they can be.

Because ticks are a year-round concern (even though they go dormant in the winter months), many homeowners have the same questions: Where do ticks live? Where do ticks go in the winter? When should you start watching out for them again?

At What Temperature are Ticks Active?

If you’re wondering, “When do ticks come out?”, the answer is as soon as temperatures allow.

Typically, by April you should consider them back in action here in Western New York.

One of the biggest factors that determines tick activity is temperature. Ticks don’t thrive in freezing conditions, which is why they enter dormancy in the winter. But once the weather starts to warm up, they quickly become active again.

In Rochester, ticks reemerge in early spring, around April, when daytime temperatures regularly rise to about 45 degrees. From there, ticks increase their activity steadily, with late spring and early summer being some of the busiest months. This is when you are most likely to find them in tall grass, wooded areas, and even around your own yard.

So, are ticks active in winter? For the most part, no, as we’ve answered above. While they do remain dormant in the coldest months, it only takes a brief warm spell above 45 degrees for adult ticks to become active again, even in the middle of January. That’s why you may end up surprised to find ticks earlier or later than expected.

Where Do Ticks Live?

Ticks thrive in places where they can stay shaded, moist, and close to potential hosts. Outdoors, that often means tall grasses, brushy areas, wooded edges, and piles of leaves. They don’t jump or fly, so they wait on vegetation for a person or animal to pass by and then latch on.

In residential areas, ticks can also live around fence lines, along wooded property edges, in overgrown landscaping, or literally anywhere else pets or wildlife travel through your yard.

What Can I Do to Lower the Population During Tick Season?

While tick season is tough to manage, there are practical steps you can take to make your yard less inviting and reduce the chances of an encounter once tick season arrives. Small changes now can make a big difference when warmer weather returns.

• Keep grass trimmed short. Ticks prefer tall grasses and overgrown areas. Mowing regularly not only makes your lawn look neat but also limits their habitat.
• Clear away clutter. Leaf litter, brush piles, and tall weeds are common hiding spots for ticks. Raking leaves in the fall and removing debris throughout the year can cut down their options for hiding spaces.
• Consider professional treatment. Tick control applications, typically applied from spring through fall, can significantly reduce populations.

• Protect your pets. Dogs and cats are frequent targets for ticks. Using vet-approved tick prevention products helps protect your furry family members and keeps them from carrying ticks indoors.
• Take personal precautions. When gardening or spending time in wooded areas, wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily. Tucking your pants into your socks is a simple trick that prevents ticks from crawling up your legs.

Do Tick Lawn Treatments Work?

Simply put, professional tick treatments can make a big difference in keeping ticks under control around your home. At Trimline, we use an all-natural cedar oil product that’s both safe and effective. Unlike harsh chemical sprays, cedar oil works by repelling and disrupting ticks without posing risks to your family, pets, and the environment.

Because cedar oil is natural, it does break down a little more quickly than synthetic products. Each application lasts about 3-4 weeks, which is why we recommend a seven-visit program, spaced throughout the season. This ensures your lawn has continuous protection during the months when ticks are most active.

Partnering with Trimline for Mosquito, Flea, and Tick Control in Rochester, NY

Ticks may slow down in the winter, but unfortunately, they are never truly gone. With safe and effective cedar oil treatments and a customized program that fits your needs, Trimline helps protect your family, pets, and yard from ticks all year long.

Sick of worrying about ticks around your home? Fill out our contact form today to get started.