We are On Target Tick Control, and we know ticks. Although we have all seen ticks as early as March and as late as November in Connecticut, people often ask us if ticks remain active in the winter months. Spring, Summer and Autumn are dangerous for lovers of the outdoors, as the Lyme Disease carrying ticks are out in force. Ticks survive the winter in a variety of ways, but do not go away just because it is cold. Depending on the species and the stage in their life cycle, ticks go dormant or latch onto a host in the winter months. Ticks hide in the leaf litter present in the wooded or brushy areas they tend to populate. Snow actually insulates the dormant ticks, which are protected by the layer of debris under the snow layer.
The two most common species of tick seen in Connecticut are The Blacklegged tick (Deer Tick) and The American Dog Tick. The Deer Tick is the major cause of Lyme Disease in Connecticut, while the brown Dog Tick may transmit canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis to dogs. The Deer Tick will remain active as long as temperatures remain above freezing, and actively look for food after the first frost. They will go dormant under the snow and will emerge just before spring.
There is a species that remains active all winter long in the northeast. The Winter Tick, AKA the Moose Tick, hatches in late summer as temperatures begin to decrease, and is active during cooler months. This tick is typically found on moose, and sometimes deer, in the Northeastern part of the country. The winter tick is a one-host tick, with all three active life stages feeding on the same animal. They tend to heavily infest moose, mainly because moose are unable to groom the ticks off their hides, leading to anemia, skin irritation, hair loss, and plain misery.
On Target Tick Control can eliminate the tick population around your home. Our Tick Control Program begins in March and ends in October. Call us for an estimate today at 203-746-6638.
