Tick Season in Georgia: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe Outdoors

Georgia’s warm climate and diverse landscapes make it one of the most tick-active states in the country. Whether you’re hiking through the North Georgia mountains, walking a suburban trail near Atlanta, or simply spending time in your backyard, ticks can be closer than you think.

Understanding tick season in Georgia — when it peaks, which species to watch for, and what diseases they carry — gives you the knowledge to enjoy the outdoors with confidence. This guide covers everything you need to protect yourself, your children, and your pets throughout the year.

Key Insight: Georgia is home to 21 species of ticks, but only a handful regularly bite humans. Knowing which ones are active — and when — is your first line of defense.

When Is Tick Season in Georgia

In Georgia, flea and tick season is essentially a year-round event. However, the level of risk changes significantly with the seasons. Tick-borne illnesses are most often transmitted between early spring and late fall since ticks are most active during warm months, but tick-borne diseases have been reported year-round in Georgia.

Georgia tick season peaks during warm weather, typically April through October. During these months, you are most likely to encounter ticks in high numbers. Ticks are most active from April to September, and Georgians are particularly susceptible to tick-borne Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Ticks in many parts of Georgia are active year-round, but warmer weather certainly increases their activity. Like many other animals, ticks become more active in warm conditions. Ticks require certain conditions to survive and are generally most active between 40°F and 80°F, though many species remain active even into the low 100s. Ticks also prefer humid environments due to the way they breathe, and the high humidity in Georgia is ideal for their survival.

Georgia can experience particularly heavy tick seasons when conditions include warmer-than-average temperatures, high humidity, and thriving wildlife populations that provide ample hosts. Even during cooler winter months, it is wise to remain cautious — especially if you live near wooded or brushy areas. If you enjoy activities like dove hunting in Georgia, be especially mindful of tick exposure during the fall season.

Pro Tip: Don’t let a mild winter lull you into a false sense of security. Mild winters tend to produce heavier tick seasons in the months that follow, as tick populations thrive with fewer cold snaps to reduce their numbers.

Types of Ticks Found in Georgia

Georgia is home to 21 species of ticks, of which only 4 species feed on humans. The three tick species most commonly associated with humans in Georgia are the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis).

Understanding the differences between these species helps you recognize what you may have encountered and what health risks to monitor for.

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

The most common tick found on humans in Georgia is the lone star tick — an aggressive seeker of blood that can spread dangerous pathogens through its bites. The Lone Star tick has unusually long mouthparts, and the female has a single white spot in the middle of her back, while the white markings on the male are diffuse.

Named for that bright yellowish-white spot on its back, the lone star tick is widely distributed in wooded areas across the Southeast, Eastern, and Midwest United States. It is tiny — in the nymph stage it is about the size of a sesame seed, and as an adult it is barely a quarter of an inch in diameter.

Common hosts include large animals such as livestock, dogs, deer, and humans, as well as smaller animals such as birds and rodents. Lone Star ticks are particularly common in brushy, bottomland areas where deer are prevalent.

American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

The American dog tick has shorter mouthparts, and both males and females have diffuse white markings on their backs. Dogs are the preferred host, but this tick will feed on a variety of large animals, including humans.

Deer ticks primarily live in forested areas, while dog ticks are more commonly found in fields and parks. The highest risk of being bitten by the American dog tick occurs during spring and summer, and adult females are most likely to bite humans.

Black-Legged Tick / Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

The black-legged tick is smaller than the other two common Georgia ticks and has no white markings on its back. The greatest risk of being bitten by this tick exists in the spring, summer, and fall, though adults may be out searching for a host any time winter temperatures are above freezing. The nymphs and adult females are the stages most likely to bite humans.

Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)

The Asian longhorned tick was recently identified in Georgia. This tick is unique in that it is parthenogenetic, meaning it can reproduce without males. Its primary hosts are livestock and wildlife, and any animals found with unusually high tick populations should be reported to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Unlike other ticks, a single female Asian longhorned tick can produce 1,000 to 2,000 eggs at a time without mating, meaning a single animal could host hundreds or thousands of ticks. These ticks are light brown in color and tiny, and because of their small size and quick movement, they are difficult to detect. To learn more about how ticks reproduce and develop through their life stages, visit this overview of how ticks reproduce.

Important Note: Not every tick is infected with a pathogen. However, you should treat every tick bite with caution and monitor yourself for symptoms in the weeks that follow.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Georgia

Ticks are one of the most important groups of arthropods in Georgia because of their disease-transmitting capabilities. In Georgia, ticks are known to transmit several diseases, with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease being the most common. Tularemia is also a long-recognized disease transmitted by ticks, as are the more recently recognized diseases anaplasmosis, human ehrlichiosis, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), and the recently found Heartland virus.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is one of the most common tick-borne diseases reported in Georgia. RMSF has a fatality rate of 3% to 5%, with two-thirds of cases occurring in children under the age of 15. The disease is characterized by a sudden onset of chills, fever, headache, and bloodshot eyes. The name “spotted fever” refers to the rash that appears 2 to 4 days after the onset of fever, which starts on the hands and feet as small, flat, pink spots that gradually spread to most of the body. Antibiotics provide effective treatment, and the American dog tick is the primary vector.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease was first recognized in Georgia in 1987. While cases occur all over the state, the largest numbers occur in the northern half of the state. Lyme disease is relatively uncommon in Georgia for reasons that are not yet well-understood.

The initial sign of Lyme disease infection is a ring-like swollen rash known as “erythema migrans” that appears at the site of the tick bite within 3 to 22 days. The rash usually has a bright red outer ring with a lighter center ring, and is frequently accompanied by joint pain and flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle pain, and sometimes nausea.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)

Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, is a tick-borne red meat allergy spread by the aggressive lone star tick — the most likely of any tick to bite. AGS is unlike other food allergies in that symptoms — which range from itching and nausea to trouble breathing to life-threatening anaphylaxis — are often delayed by several hours after consumption. That delay can make it difficult to identify the food that triggered the reaction.

Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis

Ehrlichiosis is spread by the lone star and black-legged ticks, and symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes an upset stomach. Anaplasmosis is spread to people by tick bites primarily from the blacklegged tick in Georgia. People with anaplasmosis will often have fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Doxycycline is the drug of choice for adults and children of all ages.

Heartland Virus

In 2019, Emory University researchers found that Heartland virus is circulating in lone star ticks in Georgia — an emerging pathogen that is not yet well understood. Those infected with this virus may feel typical flu-like symptoms including fever, headaches, nausea, and general weakness. Treatment is nonspecific, with fluids and medications for pain relief being the main options.

For a deeper look at one well-known tick-borne illness that affects people globally, you can also read about tick-borne encephalitis.

Important Note: If you develop symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, or muscle aches after a tick bite or time spent outdoors, seek medical attention promptly. Early treatment significantly reduces the risk of serious complications.

High-Risk Areas and Habitats in Georgia

“Georgia is a tick haven in general,” according to Emory University researchers, “since we have a long warm season and such a diversity of habitats.” Knowing where ticks concentrate can help you stay alert in the right places.

Where Ticks Are Most Likely to Be Found

Ticks survive best in high grass or brushy areas that are also attractive to their hosts. Game trails and large deer populations are often associated with large tick populations. Ticks also need a high level of moisture for survival. Bottomlands where high humidity, thick vegetation, and high deer populations occur are typically preferred tick habitats.

Ticks that transmit Lyme disease thrive in wooded and grassy areas, as well as in shrubs and leaf litter. They are often found in places where humans come into contact with their habitats, such as forests, parks, gardens, and even suburban areas with grassy lawns. Ticks can attach themselves to humans and animals when they brush against vegetation or walk through tick-infested areas.

High-Risk Regions Within Georgia

The areas with the highest probability for the presence of lone star ticks include parts of the Southeastern Plains and Piedmont ecoregions of the state, including metro Atlanta. Lone star ticks were found in all of the ecoregions except for the mountainous Blue Ridge ecoregion in the northeast corner of the state. The majority of the ticks were found in forested areas of the Piedmont, Southeastern Plains, and Southern Coastal Plains ecoregions.

Different tick species inhabit different environments. Deer ticks primarily live in forested areas, while dog ticks are more commonly found in fields and parks. This means your risk profile changes depending on where you’re spending time outdoors.

What Makes Georgia’s Environment Especially Hospitable to Ticks

Climate change is fueling warmer and shorter winters, increasing opportunities for some species of ticks to breed more frequently and expand their ranges. Land-use changes are also strongly associated with tick-borne diseases, as more human habitats encroach on wooded areas and the loss of natural habitat forces wildlife to live in denser populations.

Ticks prefer humid environments due to the way they breathe, and Georgia’s high humidity is ideal for their survival. Interestingly, some wildlife species play a natural role in controlling tick populations. You can learn about animals that eat ticks and how they help keep numbers in check in certain ecosystems.

Pro Tip: Avoid sitting directly on the ground, fallen logs, or leaf piles when spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Ticks don’t jump — they cling to vegetation and wait for a host to brush past.

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

Limiting your exposure to ticks is the best way to prevent tick-borne disease. The good news is that a combination of simple habits and the right products can dramatically reduce your risk, whether you’re heading into the woods or spending an afternoon in the backyard.

Protecting Yourself and Your Children

• Dress defensively: Wear light-colored clothing so that crawling ticks can be easily seen. Wear pants and long sleeves to reduce skin exposure. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to prevent ticks from crawling up pant legs.
• Use repellents: Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin and permethrin to clothing. There is also commercially available clothing treated with permethrin that is often effective at keeping ticks away.
• Stay on trails: Stay on marked trails and avoid brushing up against vegetation. Ticks do not like sunny, dry environments or short vegetation, so keeping to marked trails reduces their presence.
• Do a full tick check: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly inspect your body for crawling or attached ticks. Pay particular attention to the head and scalp, as ticks may be hidden in the hair.
• Shower promptly: Showering within the first two hours of being home has been shown to lower your risk of getting Lyme disease. It can help wash off any unattached ticks and is a great way to do a tick check.
• Tumble-dry your clothes: If you see any ticks on clothing, tumble dry the clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes. Cold and medium temperature water won’t kill ticks.

Protecting Your Pets

Pets should be given regular flea and tick prevention treatments. While these won’t stop ticks from climbing onto your pets, they do offer protection if the ticks try to feed. Be sure to check your pets for ticks as well.

Ticks often come in contact with humans via travel from outdoor or indoor pets. Make sure to routinely check your pet for ticks and administer regular flea and tick prevention medication as recommended by your veterinarian.

Dogs are particularly vulnerable to tick-borne illnesses during Georgia’s long warm season. For targeted advice on keeping your dog safe, read these tips for preventing tick-borne diseases in your dog.

Protecting Your Yard

• Tick populations can be effectively controlled with pesticides along trails and by keeping grass mowed.
• Remove leaf litter, brush piles, and wood stacks from around your home, as these create ideal tick habitat.
• Create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and any wooded areas to discourage tick migration.
• Consider tick-targeted yard treatments in spring before peak season begins, especially if you have children or pets that spend time outside.

Common Mistake: Many people check only obvious spots like the back of the knee or the ankle after time outdoors. Ticks gravitate toward warm, hidden areas — check the hairline, behind the ears, under the arms, around the waistband, and between the toes.

What to Do If You Find a Tick in Georgia

Unless a tick has attached and begun feeding, there is usually no health risk. Even if feeding has started, most tick-borne diseases require the tick to be attached for at least 4 to 24 hours before transmission can occur. This means that prompt removal is one of the most effective tools you have.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
2. Don’t twist or jerk. Don’t twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove them easily, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
3. Clean the bite area. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
4. Dispose of the tick properly. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by flushing it down the toilet or placing it in rubbing alcohol in a sealed container.
5. Consider saving the tick. If you develop symptoms, having the tick available for identification can be helpful. Place it in a sealed bag or container with a damp paper towel.

What NOT to Do

Do not use petroleum jelly, fire, or other home remedies — these methods may increase the risk of infection. Be careful not to squeeze, crush, or puncture the tick’s body, which may contain infectious fluids.

Do not apply a lit match or Vaseline product to the tick while it is attached to you, as this may cause it to regurgitate. If the tick regurgitates, this could infect you with a tick-borne pathogen.

Watch for Symptoms

If you develop symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, muscle aches, or other flu-like symptoms after a tick bite or spending time in tick-infested areas, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications associated with tick-borne diseases.

Pro Tip: Take a photo of the tick before removing it if possible. Knowing the species can help your doctor assess your risk for specific diseases and make more informed treatment decisions.

Reporting Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Illness in Georgia

Georgia has established several resources for residents who want to report tick encounters or get professional guidance after a bite. Using these channels helps public health officials track tick populations and disease trends across the state.

Georgia’s Free Tick Identification Program

Public health does recommend tick identification and telling your provider the species of tick if you develop symptoms. If you would like to have a tick identified by one of Georgia’s entomologists, you can submit it to Georgia’s Tick ID Program. This free service is offered through the Georgia Department of Public Health and can provide valuable information if you later develop symptoms.

Should You Have the Tick Tested for Diseases?

If you recently removed a tick from your body, getting it tested for diseases might be tempting. While this seems like an ideal solution, public health does not generally recommend testing ticks for pathogens, because laboratories that conduct tick testing are not required to have the high standards of quality control used by clinical diagnostic laboratories. Results of tick testing should not be used for treatment decisions.

Positive results showing that the tick contains a disease-causing organism do not necessarily mean that you have been infected. Negative results can lead to false assurance, and you may have been unknowingly bitten by a different tick that was infected. If you have been infected, you will probably develop symptoms before the tick test results are available — and if you become ill, you should not wait for tick testing results before beginning appropriate treatment.

Reporting Tick-Borne Illness

If you or a family member is diagnosed with a tick-borne illness, your healthcare provider is required to report it to the Georgia Department of Public Health. This reporting helps DPH identify clusters of disease, track emerging tick species, and target prevention messaging to the communities that need it most.

You can also take a picture of the tick and submit it to the Georgia Department of Public Health through their online reporting tool. This is especially helpful for identifying less common or invasive species like the Asian longhorned tick.

When to See a Doctor

If you develop symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, muscle aches, or other flu-like symptoms after a tick bite or spending time in tick-infested areas, seek medical attention promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications associated with tick-borne diseases.

When you visit your doctor, be prepared to share:

• When and where you found the tick
• How long you believe it was attached
• The tick species if it was identified
• Any symptoms you have developed and when they started

Key Insight: Georgia’s tick surveillance program actively monitors tick populations at wildlife management areas and state parks across the state. Your reports contribute to a statewide effort to understand and reduce tick-borne disease risk.

Tick season in Georgia is long and, in some years, especially intense — but it is entirely manageable with the right habits and awareness. Dress protectively, use repellents, perform thorough tick checks, and know how to respond if you find one attached. By staying informed and taking consistent precautions, you can spend time outdoors in Georgia’s beautiful landscapes with far less worry.