Tick Season in Delaware: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
May 22, 2026
Delaware may be the nation’s second-smallest state, but it has an outsized tick problem. According to tick biologist Dr. Ashley C. Kennedy, Delaware ranks sixth in the nation for incidences of Lyme disease and in the top 10 for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. That is a striking reality for a state most people think of as a quick drive-through on the way to the beach.
Ticks are found everywhere in Delaware, and most bites happen in your own backyard. They are active year-round — not just in late spring and early summer, which is the prime “tick season” most people picture. Understanding when they are most dangerous, which species to watch for, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones can make all the difference this season and beyond.
When Is Tick Season in Delaware
Tick season in Delaware runs from April to September, with the most activity occurring from May to July. However, ticks are hardy creatures that can even be active in winter, so you can never be too careful about tick safety.
Black-legged (“deer”) ticks are the primary carrier of bacteria that cause Lyme disease in Delaware, with the peak season for ticks and Lyme transmission occurring in May and June. That window is when your risk is highest, and it is also when multiple species overlap in activity at the same time.
Even though ticks are seen all year in the First State, peak tick activity picks up in late spring and continues through July. That is when multiple species of ticks are active simultaneously and in higher numbers.
Key Insight: DNREC tick biologist Dr. Kennedy notes that ticks can be found year-round in Delaware. “We don’t really have a season anymore,” she says. “It’s still higher in the late spring and summer, but you can even find ticks all year long, unfortunately.”
June marks the beginning of peak tick season in Delaware. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) remind residents to take proactive steps to protect themselves, their families, and pets this summer. With warmer weather increasing outdoor activities, the risk of tick bites and tick-borne illnesses rises significantly.
Types of Ticks Found in Delaware
Delaware is home to at least 15 different tick species, possibly as many as 19. While most of them rarely come into contact with humans, the five most common tick species found in Delaware are the Lone Star Tick, the Deer/Blacklegged Tick, the American Dog Tick, the Gulf Coast Tick, and the Longhorned Tick. To understand your risk, it helps to know each one.
You can also learn more about how ticks reproduce to better understand why populations surge each season.
| Tick Species | Peak Activity | Most Common In | Primary Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Star Tick | Spring through early fall | Kent & Sussex Counties | Ehrlichiosis, Alpha-gal Syndrome |
| Blacklegged (Deer) Tick | Spring to fall; active above freezing in winter | New Castle County | Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis |
| American Dog Tick | Spring and early summer | Statewide | Spotted fever rickettsiosis |
| Gulf Coast Tick | Warm months | Southern Delaware | Spotted fever |
| Longhorned Tick | Spring and summer | New Castle & Kent Counties | Rarely bites humans in the U.S. |
Lone star ticks accounted for 96% of ticks collected in a recent year by DNREC’s tick program. They are the most common tick species in Delaware, especially in Kent and Sussex Counties, and are found in spring, summer, and early fall in a variety of habitats. You can identify a female lone star tick by the distinctive white dot in the center of her back.
Blacklegged ticks are smaller but pose a higher infection risk than other species. They are active from spring to fall, and even in winter above freezing, and are most common in New Castle County.
American dog ticks are common in Delaware, especially during the spring and early summer. Despite the name, they will readily bite people as well as dogs. They carry a small probability of infection with the bacteria that causes spotted fever, resulting in fever, aches, and a distinctive rash.
Longhorned ticks are found in a variety of habitats in New Castle and Kent Counties during the spring and summer. They infrequently bite humans and are more likely to be seen on pets or livestock. To date, they are not associated with any medical conditions in the United States.
Pro Tip: Knowing which species bit you is important because each species carries different disease risks. If you had to choose, being bitten by an American dog tick carries lower risk than being bitten by the other common human-biting tick species in Delaware.
Tick-Borne Diseases in Delaware
Delaware has one of the highest incidences of Lyme disease in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The tick-borne disease can have serious human health consequences. But Lyme disease is far from the only concern in the First State.
According to the latest Delaware Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance Report from DPH, 344 cases of Lyme disease were reported in the state in 2024. Lyme disease is spread by blacklegged ticks in the Mid-Atlantic region, and symptoms can range from fever and fatigue to severe joint pain and neurological issues if left untreated. In some cases, a rash resembling a bullseye will appear near the site of the bite.
Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, appearing three to 30 days after a tick bite, include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. You can read more about tick-borne encephalitis and other serious neurological complications that ticks can cause around the world.
Lone star ticks are associated with causing ehrlichiosis, a flu-like illness, and alpha-gal syndrome — an allergic reaction to eating beef, pork, lamb, venison, and sometimes products containing dairy and gelatin.
Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) was made a reportable condition in Delaware beginning in December 2024. More than 100 cases of AGS were reported to DPH from June to December 2024 alone. This rapid rise in reported cases signals just how important it is to take lone star tick bites seriously.
Delaware also ranks in the top five states for ehrlichiosis, another disease caused by bacteria transmitted to humans and animals through bites by an infected tick.
Important Note: Lyme disease symptoms can include a “bull’s-eye” rash (seen in approximately half of Lyme disease cases in Delaware), fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint aches. Chronic joint, heart, and neurological problems may occur. Anyone bitten by a tick should monitor their health closely and contact a physician if symptoms develop.
Black-legged ticks also carry disease-causing organisms that cause the flu-like illnesses anaplasmosis and babesiosis. The American dog tick can carry bacteria that cause spotted fever rickettsiosis. In short, the variety of diseases circulating in Delaware’s tick population makes prevention and awareness essential for everyone spending time outdoors.
High-Risk Areas and Habitats in Delaware
Ticks are found everywhere in Delaware, and most bites happen in your own backyard. That said, certain areas and environments carry a higher risk than others, and knowing where to be most careful helps you stay one step ahead.
Ticks favor a moist, shaded environment, especially areas with leaf litter and low-lying vegetation in wooded, brushy, or overgrown grassy habitat. Unlike most outdoor pests, ticks are unable to fly or jump. They wait in tall grass and attach to people and animals that brush past them.
Tick abundance and density are much higher in Kent and Sussex Counties than in New Castle County, but New Castle County has a larger human population that may vacation or recreate downstate. This means even if you live in northern Delaware, a weekend trip to the beaches or forests of Sussex County puts you in some of the state’s most tick-dense territory.
- Wooded areas and state parks: Forested trails and wildlife management areas throughout Delaware provide ideal tick habitat, especially where leaf litter and shaded vegetation are dense.
- Tall grass and meadows: Some tick species can thrive in meadows, pastures, fields, and even wetlands and lawns.
- Backyard edges: Patios, playgrounds, and recreational areas near tall trees are risky because ticks thrive in shaded areas.
- Brushy and invasive plant zones: Invasive plants such as Amur honeysuckle and multiflora rose are associated with high tick numbers.
- Wildlife corridors: Areas where deer, rodents, and other wildlife travel frequently are hotspots for tick activity, since debris may attract rodents, which in turn may harbor ticks.
If you enjoy outdoor activities like hunting in Delaware, be especially vigilant during tick season. Hunters spending time in wooded and brushy terrain — such as those participating in dove hunting season in Delaware — face elevated tick exposure and should perform thorough tick checks after every outing.
Pro Tip: When you are in areas with high tick populations, stick to the center of trails and wear long pants tucked into socks to reduce the chance of picking up a tick.
How to Protect Yourself, Children and Pets During Tick Season in Delaware
Protecting yourself, your children, and your pets during tick season in Delaware does not require drastic measures — just consistent habits. The combination of the right clothing, repellents, yard maintenance, and post-outdoor checks dramatically reduces your risk.
Dress for Protection
When entering wooded or grassy areas, wear long pants, long sleeves, and tuck your pants into socks to minimize exposed skin. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot. This simple wardrobe adjustment is one of the most effective physical barriers against tick bites.
Use Repellents Correctly
Apply insect repellents that contain at least 20 percent DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to skin and clothing. Use permethrin on clothing and camping equipment for an additional layer of protection that lasts through multiple washes.
When applying insect repellents, always follow the instructions on the product’s label. It is generally recommended to avoid applying repellents on a child’s face, hands, and areas that may come into contact with eyes or mouth.
Perform Thorough Tick Checks
After enjoying the outdoors, check yourself, your kids, and pets for ticks and immediately take a bath or shower. Ticks like to hide in warm, hidden areas, so inspect armpits, groins, and behind the knees. Also check hard-to-see spots like inside the belly button, in and around ears, between legs, under arms, and in hair.
Shower within two hours of coming indoors and tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks. This is an often-overlooked but highly effective step.
Protect Your Pets
Your pets are just as vulnerable to tick bites as you are — and they can carry ticks into your home. Keep pets up to date on tick preventive products. Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention options for your dog or cat, including tick collars, topical treatments, and oral medications. For more guidance, read about preventing tick-borne diseases in your dog.
It is also worth knowing that certain animals naturally eat ticks, which can help reduce tick populations in your yard over time.
Maintain Your Yard
Keep your yard tick-free by mowing the lawn regularly, removing leaf piles, and creating a buffer zone with gravel or wood chips between your lawn and wooded areas. You can also manage or alter vegetation to make backyard habitats less attractive for ticks by clearing tall grasses and brush, removing leaf litter, mowing your lawn often, and creating barrier strips of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas.
Common Mistake: Many Delaware residents assume their manicured suburban lawn is tick-free. Most tick bites actually happen in our own backyards, particularly near the edges where grass meets wooded or brushy areas. Do not skip tick checks just because you stayed close to home.
What to Do If You Find a Tick in Delaware
Staying calm is the first step. Finding a tick on yourself, a child, or a pet does not automatically mean disease transmission has occurred — but prompt, proper removal is essential. It often takes up to 24 to 48 hours for infections like Lyme disease to be transmitted, so early detection is key.
How to Remove a Tick Safely
- Use fine-tipped tweezers. The best and safest way to remove a tick is to use fine-tipped tweezers and hold the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, pulling upward with even pressure. The goal is to prevent causing part of the tick to break off under the skin, or squeezing the tick and spreading its infected blood into the wound.
- Grasp close to the skin. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and pull it out gently. Avoid twisting or jerking motions.
- Clean the bite area. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the tick bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Avoid folk remedies. Do not use petroleum jelly, hot matches, or essential oils to remove ticks — they do not work and may increase your risk of infection.
- Save the tick. If you would like to bring the tick to your health care provider for identification, place it in a sealed container or put it in a capped container of rubbing alcohol. Knowing the type of tick involved in the bite can help determine which diseases you may be at risk for.
Watch for Symptoms
Remove the tick as soon as possible and seek medical treatment if you develop a fever, rash, or flu-like symptoms within 30 days of the bite. Do not wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own — tick-borne diseases respond much better to early treatment.
Important Note: Since the blacklegged tick is the only species of tick that can spread Lyme disease in Delaware, it is important to save the tick or take a picture of it for identification. Knowing what species of tick has attached to you, a family member, or a pet will help determine whether you may be at risk for a tick-borne disease.
Reporting Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Illness in Delaware
Delaware has dedicated resources for tracking and responding to tick activity across the state — and your reports genuinely matter. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and the DHSS Division of Public Health work together year-round to study tick populations, species distribution, seasonality, and disease risk to humans, including Lyme disease. The goal of the tick program is to better understand the biology and ecology of Delaware ticks and the problems they cause.
Report Your Tick Encounter to DNREC
DNREC State Tick Biologist Dr. Kennedy suggests Delawareans take a photo of the tick after it has been removed and include it when submitting a Tick Interaction Report at de.gov/ticks to learn more about the risks associated with a tick encounter. This helps scientists track which species are biting humans and where hot spots are developing across the state.
You can use the Tick Interactions Form to report any interactions you have had with a tick and get the information you need. The reporting page is available at dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/ticks/reporting/.
Report Tick-Borne Disease to the Division of Public Health
All cases of Lyme disease should be reported to the Delaware Division of Public Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. For questions, call 1-888-295-5156. Early reporting helps public health officials allocate resources and issue timely warnings to communities most at risk.
For information on tick-borne disease, visit dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/tick.html. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are related to a tick bite, do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider — early treatment is consistently the most effective approach.
Pro Tip: DNREC also advises saving ticks in a zip-seal bag in case they are needed for future medical reference. Even after you have cleaned the bite area and feel fine, keeping the tick for a few weeks gives your doctor a useful diagnostic tool if symptoms appear later.
How DNREC Monitors Delaware’s Tick Population
Ticks are collected at state parks and other public lands by a technique called “dragging,” in which a white flag is dragged across vegetation. Ticks seeking a host in the vegetation will grab onto the flag as it goes by and can be easily seen and collected. Ticks are also collected from pets and other animals via collaborating veterinary professionals, and from hunter-harvested game animals.
The collected ticks are screened for pathogens in a molecular biology laboratory at Delaware Technical Community College, to identify hot spots where tick-borne pathogens are most prevalent. This ongoing surveillance is what allows state officials to issue timely seasonal warnings and identify emerging threats like the rise of alpha-gal syndrome cases in recent years.
Tick season in Delaware is a serious public health matter, but it is manageable with the right knowledge and habits. Whether you are hiking Sussex County trails, gardening in your backyard, or enjoying outdoor activities across the First State, staying tick-aware from April through September — and beyond — is one of the most important things you can do for your family’s health.