Tick Season Isn't Over: Why Fall Tick Bites Matter
Updated: Oct 8
When summer ends, most people stop thinking about ticks. But ticks are active all year long, and in Connecticut and across the Northeast, fall brings its own tick risk.
Why fall still matters
Deer ticks, also called blacklegged ticks, are the ticks that spread Lyme disease. The tiny young ticks, called nymphs, are most active in late spring and summer. Adult deer ticks are most active in the fall and can stay active any time temperatures rise above freezing. That means raking leaves, hiking, hunting, and even playing in the yard can all bring you into contact with ticks well into autumn.
Where fall ticks wait
Ticks thrive in leaf litter, tall grass, and the brushy edges where lawns meet woods. Fall chores like raking and clearing brush put you right in their habitat.
Simple ways to protect yourself
Use a natural repellent like oil of lemon eucalyptus, geranium, or cedarwood oil, and reapply often.
Wear long sleeves and light-colored clothing so ticks are easy to spot, and tuck your pants into your socks.
Keep a white lint roller by the door and in your car. Roll your clothes and your pets' fur after time outdoors.
Toss clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes when you come inside.
Shower within 2 hours and do a full-body tick check.
Check pets daily. Dogs often carry ticks indoors.
If you find a tick
Remove it right away with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up with steady pressure. Then call your healthcare provider right away, no matter how long the tick was attached. Immediate intervention works best within 4 days of the bite.
How to send your tick for testing
Testing the tick can show what type it is and which infections it carries, which helps your provider decide on next steps. I recommend TickReport, a tick testing service run by the Laboratory of Medical Zoology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Place the tick, alive or dead, in a sealed plastic bag.
Order a test online at tickreport.com, with details about the tick, the bite, and the person bitten.
Write your order number on the bag.
Mail it to the lab address on your receipt. Results are emailed to you, usually within a few business days.
Don't wait for your results before calling your provider. Share your TickReport results with them when they arrive, and watch for a rash, fever, fatigue, aches, or any new symptoms for the next 30 days.
Need support?
In Connecticut or Colorado? Book a telehealth visit with Dr. Houser or call (860) 228-1287.
Dr. Marisa Houser, ND, LAc., FMAPS, is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist specializing in Lyme, vector-borne, and complex chronic illness, offering telehealth visits for patients in Connecticut and Colorado.
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