Fall Tick Control: Why Deer Ticks Stay Active Through October and November

Fall tick control matters because adult deer ticks come out in October and November, and they keep looking for a host until temperatures stay consistently cold, not just past the first frost.

A lot of homeowners put tick protection away with the patio furniture, and that is understandable, because the summer crowds of mosquitoes are gone and the yard feels quieter. The ticks have not gone anywhere, though. Tom Mather, an entomologist at the University of Rhode Island who studies tick activity in New England, points out that October and November are the season for adult deer ticks, and that many people mistakenly believe tick season ends once fall arrives.

That matters because fall is also when families are out raking, walking the dog through the leaves, and cleaning up the edges of the yard, which is exactly where ticks wait. Our tick control and Lyme disease prevention services are built to cover the whole season, and the fall months are part of it.

Is Your Yard Still at Risk for Ticks This Fall?

If your property has any of the conditions below, it is worth thinking about ticks well into November:

• A wooded edge, brushy border, or tall grass along the back of the lawn
• Fallen leaves that collect along fences, walls, and garden beds
• Stone walls, woodpiles, or brush piles that give mice and other small animals a place to live
• Bird feeders or other spots that draw wildlife into the yard
• Deer passing through, or a dog that comes back inside after time in the yard

Most yards in our area have at least two or three of these, which is why we hear from so many customers who are surprised to find a tick on themselves or their pets in October.

Why Adult Deer Ticks Show Up in the Fall

Deer ticks go through several life stages, and each stage has its own active season. The smaller nymphs are out in late spring and early summer, and that is when roughly 80% of Lyme cases are contracted each year, which is why the spring tick treatment is so important.

The adult ticks follow in the fall. They are a little larger than the nymphs and easier to spot, but they are still very small, and they can still carry disease. According to Mather, adult deer ticks stay active until the temperature stays consistently cold, so a single hard frost does not end the season.

It also helps to know where ticks pick up Lyme disease in the first place. Deer ticks get it by feeding on white-footed mice, not deer, so anything in your yard that keeps mice comfortable, like leaf litter, brush, and stone walls, also keeps the tick problem going.

How We Handle Ticks in the Fall

We have a few options, and many customers combine them depending on how much tick pressure their property sees.

Organic Mosquito & Tick Control Program. This program consists of 8 timed applications scheduled from spring to fall. The sprays are made from Cedar Wood Oil and a blend of organic botanical oils, they kill mosquitoes and ticks on contact, and they repel biting insects for up to four weeks. There is no need to keep off the lawn afterward.

Tick & Mosquito Insecticide. For added protection, many customers add between 1 and 5 applications of our tick and mosquito insecticide throughout the year. We use a pyrethroid called Bifenthrin, which is very effective, and the number of treatments is based on your property's conditions and the level of control you want. You will need to stay off the treated area for 24 hours while it dries, after which your yard is safe for your family and pets.

Tick Tubes. Tick tubes go after the mice that infect ticks to begin with. The tubes hold cotton treated with the mild insecticide Permethrin, and mice gather the cotton to build their nests. Young ticks feeding on those mice are killed before they can spread Lyme disease. We place tick tubes in spring and fall as needed, and they are a strong fit for properties with wooded areas and fallen leaves near the house, because that is where mice stay active.

You can read more about our approach on the family protection and health page and in our article on spraying options to eliminate Lyme disease threats.

What You Can Do Around the Yard This Fall

Your fall cleanup can do a lot of the work for you, because the same habits that tidy up the yard also take away the places ticks and mice like to live.

• Clear away leaf piles, especially near the house, play areas, and the edges of the lawn
• Clear brush and prune trees so the yard gets more sun and air
• Keep the grass mowed until the season ends. Our smart mowing practices article covers the right height.
• Move woodpiles and garbage away from the areas your family uses most
• Move shrubs and overgrowth farther away from patios, paths, and play areas
• Take down bird feeders and birdbaths that draw tick-carrying animals into the yard

It is also a good habit to check yourself, your kids, and your pets for ticks after raking or working along the wooded edge of the yard. If you find an attached tick or start to feel sick afterward, call your doctor.

A Few Common Questions

Do ticks die after the first frost?

No. Adult deer ticks keep looking for a host until the temperature stays consistently cold, so a single frost in October does not mean the season is over.

Are fall ticks as dangerous as summer ticks?

Most Lyme cases come from the smaller nymphs in late spring and early summer, but adult deer ticks in the fall can still carry Lyme disease and other illnesses. Ticks transmit 11 different diseases to humans, so it makes sense to keep protecting your yard through the fall.

Is it worth treating my yard for ticks in October?

If your property has wooded edges, leaf litter, or a lot of wildlife, yes. Additional insecticide treatments beyond the spring application are recommended based on your property's conditions and the level of control you want, and tick tubes are placed in the fall as needed.

Do I need to stay off the lawn after a tick treatment?

It depends on the treatment. Our organic sprays do not require you to keep off the lawn. With the Bifenthrin insecticide, you will need to stay off the treated area for 24 hours to let it dry.

Do leaf piles attract ticks?

Leaf piles give mice and other small animals a place to live, and mice are how deer ticks pick up Lyme disease. Clearing leaf piles away from the house and play areas is one of the easiest things you can do in the fall.

Why do tick tubes target mice instead of deer?

Deer ticks contract Lyme disease by feeding on white-footed mice, not deer. Tick tubes kill young ticks while they feed on the mice, which stops them before they can pass Lyme disease to your family or pets.

Can my dog bring ticks into the house in the fall?

Yes. Dogs walk through the same leaves and brush where adult ticks wait, so check your dog after time outside and ask your veterinarian about tick prevention.

When should I start tick control again next year?

In the spring. The spring application is critical, because most Lyme cases are contracted in late spring and early summer, and the CDC recommends treating every spring if you plan to use your yard.

Ready to Protect Your Yard Through the Fall?

If you would like help keeping ticks under control this fall, or want to get your yard set up for next spring, give us a call at 1-866-GO-SAFER (467-2337) or contact us for a free quote.