Tick Season in Alaska: What You Need to Know to Stay Protected

Alaska is often imagined as a landscape too cold and remote for ticks to thrive — but that assumption can put you and your family at risk. Once thought to be relatively tick-free due to its colder climate, Alaska is now experiencing rising tick activity as temperatures warm and animal migration patterns shift.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident heading out for a summer hike or a visitor exploring the backcountry, understanding tick season in Alaska is an important part of protecting your health. This guide covers when ticks are most active, which species you may encounter, what diseases to be aware of, and exactly what to do if you find one on yourself, a child, or a pet.

Key Insight: The majority of known cases of tickborne illnesses in Alaska have been traced back to non-native ticks — often introduced by travelers and pets arriving from other states.

When Is Tick Season in Alaska

Though you should be on the lookout year-round when it comes to ticks in Alaska, tick season generally peaks in the spring and early summer each year, when many nymphs grow into adults, increasing their ability to travel and feed on their preferred hosts.

Most ticks are submitted to state researchers between May and September, with a distinct peak from June to August. However, ticks have been submitted throughout the year. This means that even during the cooler shoulder seasons, exposure is possible.

As Alaska experiences milder winters and longer warm periods, tick season has the potential to extend further into the year. Ticks are most likely to bite when temperatures consistently stay above freezing, particularly during periods of increased outdoor activity.

Even during cooler months, ticks can remain active in sheltered areas or on wildlife hosts. This means you should remain vigilant and continue tick prevention measures throughout the year, especially for pets that spend time outside.

Pro Tip: A higher proportion of non-native tick species are submitted in January and April, likely due to increased holiday and spring break travel outside of the state. Travel-related tick submissions occur throughout the year, peaking in late spring and early summer. If you’re returning from a trip, check yourself and your pets carefully before coming back inside.

Types of Ticks Found in Alaska

Alaska is home to six native tick species that have historically been found in the state. These native ticks generally feed on squirrels, rabbits, other small wild mammals, and birds. However, it is not uncommon to find these ticks feeding on moose, dogs, or cats. In rare cases, they may be found on humans.

Those native ticks are known to infest small mammals like rabbits, squirrels, and voles and are considered a low risk to humans. They can spread diseases in the wild population, including tularemia — sometimes called “rabbit fever” — which can be acquired by pet dogs and cats, and occasionally people, that have contact with infested rabbits or other mammals.

In the past few years, several new tick species have been found in Alaska. These ticks are referred to as non-native or invasive ticks because they have historically not been found in Alaska. Many of these new tick species commonly feed on humans and are capable of transmitting pathogens.

In the last decade, 10 non-native tick species have been identified in the state, including the Lone Star tick and the American dog tick. Many of these non-native species can be carriers for Lyme and other diseases.

Tick Species	Native or Non-Native	Primary Hosts	Human Risk Level
Ixodes angustus (Squirrel Tick)	Native	Squirrels, hares, voles, dogs, cats	Low (rare bites)
Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Rabbit Tick)	Native	Hares, small mammals, birds	Low
Ixodes uriae (Seabird Tick)	Native	Seabirds, coastal wildlife	Very Low
Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown Dog Tick)	Non-Native / Established	Dogs, indoors/kennels	Moderate
Dermacentor variabilis (American Dog Tick)	Non-Native / Established	Dogs, humans, medium mammals	Moderate–High
Ixodes pacificus (Western Black-Legged Tick)	Non-Native / Emerging	Deer, dogs, humans	High (Lyme vector)

The brown dog tick has become established in Alaska in the Fairbanks and North Pole area, and also in Anchorage/Eagle River, Chugiak, and Valdez. The brown dog tick prefers indoor environments, especially kennel environments and homes.

Of growing concern is the western black-legged tick (*Ixodes pacificus*), which is known to spread Lyme disease. A few specimens have been found through the Submit-A-Tick program, and the Alaska climate is becoming more hospitable to it. A recent UAA study found that Southeast Alaska and parts of Southcentral Alaska already have conditions that would support the establishment of this tick species, and more areas of the state are expected to become suitable in the future.

To learn more about how ticks reproduce and spread, see this overview of how ticks reproduce.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Alaska

The good news is that Alaska’s current tick-borne disease risk is relatively low compared to the Lower 48. There have been no reported human cases of tickborne disease acquired from tick bites that occurred in Alaska. All human cases of tickborne diseases in Alaska have been people that were likely infected while traveling outside of the state and developed symptoms after returning home.

In Alaska, only three tickborne diseases have been reported: Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease, which have only affected Alaskans who were exposed while traveling outside the state — there are no reports of people contracting them in Alaska — and tularemia, which does occur in Alaska and can be transmitted through tick bites or by handling infected animals like hares.

Tularemia is a bacterial disease that is present in the state and has caused illness in domestic animals, wildlife (particularly hares and muskrats), and humans in Alaska. Although a bite from an infected tick is one way to acquire the bacteria, most cases of tularemia in domestic animals and humans in Alaska have been a result of handling infected wildlife, not from a tick bite.

Symptoms of tularemia can include high fever, a skin ulcer where the tick fed, lethargy, and swollen lymph nodes. Doctors diagnose tickborne diseases by looking at symptoms and doing lab tests. Most cases can be treated with antibiotics, especially if treatment starts early.

Important Note: So far, researchers have found no evidence that ticks currently lurking in the woods and grasses around Alaska carry the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, tularemia, or other human diseases — but the risk landscape is evolving. Always see a doctor if you develop symptoms after a tick bite.

In most cases, a tick needs to be attached to a host for several hours to pass on bacteria, parasites, or viruses in its saliva. Many of the most common tickborne diseases can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed quickly.

For a deeper look at one serious tick-borne illness that is expanding in northern regions, read about tick-borne encephalitis.

High-Risk Areas and Habitats in Alaska

Though tick populations vary throughout different parts of the state, you can expect almost any stretch of wilderness to be home to some. They thrive in forests, woodlands, and generally rural areas, which make up most of Alaska’s land beyond its cities.

The likelihood of more ticks and tick-borne diseases becoming established in Alaska has increased as winter temperatures have become milder in recent years, creating a climate more hospitable to ticks. Southcentral and Southeast Alaska are already “pretty hospitable” to ticks now, and these areas of hospitability will expand with climate change.

Researchers have actively sampled known hotspots across the state. Scientists visited nine recreation sites in Anchorage, Soldotna, Homer, Kenai, and Anchor Point in the summers of 2019 and 2020 to survey for ticks. All tick pools that tested positive for pathogens were found on hosts in Southcentral, Southeast, or Southwest Alaska — including Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Southeast Alaska, and communities on Bristol Bay.

Urban green spaces are not immune either. Sampling sites in Anchorage included Far North Bicentennial Park, University Lake Park, Ruth Arcand Park, Connors Lake Park, and Kincaid Park — all popular recreation areas where residents walk dogs and hike regularly.

• Southcentral Alaska – Anchorage parks, Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna Valley
• Southeast Alaska – Coastal forests; hospitable conditions for western black-legged tick
• Interior Alaska – Fairbanks and surrounding areas, particularly near hare and squirrel habitat
• Southwest Alaska / Kodiak Island – Coastal and forested zones with active wildlife populations
• Farms and kennels – The warmer the weather, the more ticks can thrive and infect hosts with zootic diseases, especially on farms, where livestock can carry a plethora of ticks.

Common Mistake: In the state’s larger cities, like Anchorage, there aren’t as many ticks around to take up residence — but travelers from outside the state must be cautious, as they can easily transfer ticks into Alaskan territory. Don’t assume that city parks are completely tick-free.

There are likely three primary routes of tick importation into the state: people and pets traveling to tick-endemic regions, migratory birds, and large and small mammal movement from the Canadian border.

How to Protect Yourself, Children and Pets During Tick Season in Alaska

Prevention is your most reliable defense. Whether you’re hiking a trail in the Kenai or letting your dog run in a local park, a few consistent habits can significantly reduce your exposure during tick season in Alaska.

Protecting yourself and your family:

1. Wear protective clothing – Ticks will often latch onto your pants to crawl up your legs, so it is recommended that you tuck your pant legs into your socks to avoid them.
2. Use EPA-registered repellents – Use permethrin or an EPA-approved insect repellent containing DEET to deter ticks.
3. Treat your clothing – If you’re going on a camping trip, you can treat your clothes with permethrin ahead of time.
4. Avoid high-risk vegetation – Avoid traversing through tall grasses and trails that are “off the beaten path,” as these areas are often home to ticks.
5. Do daily tick checks – A tick needs about a day and a half to transmit disease, so performing daily checks for ticks is your best defense against disease.
6. Check after travel – After traveling to places with ticks, check yourself, your pets, and your luggage before returning to Alaska.

Protecting your pets:

Many Alaskans do not use tick or flea prevention on themselves or on their pets because of the low risk of coming into contact with ticks or fleas in Alaska. However, this is changing — especially for pets that travel or spend time in wooded areas. Talk to your veterinarian about year-round flea and tick prevention products suited for Alaska’s conditions.

“Pets may move into Alaska with ticks they acquired from southern areas where tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, or Babesia are endemic. Ticks from these animals can be spread to other pets or to wildlife, and then possibly people.”

For specific guidance on keeping your dog safe from tick-borne illness, visit this resource on preventing tick-borne diseases in dogs. You may also find it helpful to know which animals eat ticks and naturally help control populations in your yard.

Managing your yard and property:

• Clear away leaf litter, mow lawns regularly, and remove brush or debris that can serve as tick habitats. Creating barriers such as gravel or wood chips between lawns and wooded areas can also limit tick migration onto your property.
• Keep firewood stacked neatly and away from the house to reduce rodent activity that can carry ticks.
• Professional tick treatments often involve targeted applications around property perimeters, wooded edges, and shaded areas where ticks are likely to reside. These services can dramatically reduce the number of ticks in your environment and provide long-lasting protection throughout the season.

What to Do If You Find a Tick in Alaska

Finding a tick on yourself, a child, or a pet doesn’t need to cause panic. Prompt, careful removal is the most important step, and knowing how to do it correctly makes all the difference.

How to remove a tick safely:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers – If you find a tick quickly, you can usually remove it simply by gently lifting it with a clean pair of tweezers. Pull slowly so as not to pull the body off the tick’s mouth parts, which could remain stuck in your skin.
2. Avoid crushing it – Never crush a tick with your fingers, as this can puncture your skin and expose you to the pathogens the tick carries.
3. Do not use folk remedies – Contrary to commonly repeated removal remedies, do not coat the tick with butter, oil, solvents, or touch a hot match to it. These practices, especially the application of heat, can cause the tick to regurgitate material back into the bite, increasing the likelihood of infection.
4. Save the tick – If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, it is important to save it so that healthcare providers and veterinarians can diagnose quickly if symptoms of a tickborne disease start to develop.
5. Clean the bite site – Wash the area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or soap and water after removal.
6. Monitor for symptoms – Watch for fever, rash, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes in the days and weeks following a bite. See a doctor promptly if any symptoms appear.

Pro Tip: Adult ticks are about the size of an apple seed, nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed, and larvae are the size of a grain of sand. Run your fingers carefully over your skin after being outdoors — nymphs are easy to miss.

If you’re unsure what kind of tick you found, consider submitting it for identification. In Alaska, researchers are still learning about the ticks that may be present in the state. If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, you can submit it to the Alaska Submit-A-Tick Program for species identification.

Reporting Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Illness in Alaska

Alaska has an active and accessible system for reporting ticks and tick-borne illness. Your participation helps researchers understand which species are spreading, where they’re being found, and what diseases they may carry.

The Alaska Submit-A-Tick Program:

In 2019, the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian, in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the University of Alaska, began the Alaska Submit-A-Tick Program. Through this program, individuals who find ticks on themselves, their family members, pets, or wildlife (such as hunted or trapped animals) can submit ticks for species identification and pathogen testing.

The Alaska Submit-A-Tick program is an outreach program that asks the public to help with discovering non-native ticks by saving and submitting any tick they find on themselves, their family members, or their pets or wildlife. After ticks are submitted to the program, they undergo species identification and pathogen testing. Species identification will help determine what type of ticks are currently in Alaska.

How to submit a tick:

1. Carefully remove the tick if it is attached and feeding. Put the tick into a clean, small plastic or metal container such as a vial or small pill bottle.
2. It is best if the tick is in a small amount of ethanol (vodka works in a pinch) but not rubbing alcohol. It can also be sent by itself in an unbreakable container, with no wadding or tissue because that dries it out.
3. Researchers need to know the host animal or if the tick was on a person, the location where the tick was found, and your contact information.
4. Print and complete an Alaska Submit-A-Tick form, available on the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation website.
5. The packaged tick can also be delivered to a local Fish and Game office, and staff can send it to researchers in Fairbanks.

Reporting tick-borne illness:

After traveling to places with ticks, check yourself, your pets, and your luggage before returning to Alaska. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms after a tick bite or being in a tick area. Health care providers and laboratories are required to report tularemia immediately, and are required to report Lyme disease within two working days.

You can also contact the Alaska Department of Health directly at health.alaska.gov for tickborne disease information and reporting guidance, or visit the Alaska Submit-A-Tick Program page to download submission forms and find drop-off locations.

Key Insight: “A pathologist can look at DNA in the tick sample to determine what diseases the tick might carry. It’s more specific and easier to detect the pathogen directly in the tick than the antibodies in a person.” Submitting your tick is one of the most useful things you can do for both your own health and Alaska’s statewide monitoring efforts.

Tick awareness in Alaska is a shared responsibility. Although Alaska’s tick populations are still relatively small compared to the Lower 48 states, their presence is a growing concern that should not be ignored. Once established, ticks can be difficult to eradicate, and their ability to transmit diseases to humans and pets makes prevention crucial. The best approach combines personal vigilance, environmental management, and professional pest control.