Tick Season in Maryland: What to Expect and How to Stay Safe

Maryland sits squarely in tick country, and if you spend any time outdoors in the warmer months, you’ve likely had a close encounter with one of these tiny but serious pests. Lyme disease cases in the state topped 2,000 in 2022 and approached 2,500 in 2023 — a reminder that tick-borne illness is a real and growing concern for Marylanders.

The good news is that awareness and a few consistent habits can go a long way toward protecting you, your children, and your pets. Whether you’re hiking in Western Maryland, gardening in a suburban backyard, or exploring the Eastern Shore, this guide covers everything you need to know about tick season in Maryland — from when it starts to what to do if you find one attached to your skin.

When Is Tick Season in Maryland?

While ticks can be active year-round during warm spells, peak tick season in Maryland runs from April through September. That’s a wide window, and it’s worth taking seriously from the moment temperatures start climbing in early spring.

Maryland’s mild winters mean adult black-legged ticks can be active on any day when temps reach 40 degrees or higher. This is one reason why tick season never truly ends in the state.

Rain helps grass and shrubs grow, increasing the areas for ticks to reside and hide. Rain also increases the chances of the tick’s hosts to be active outside, creating more opportunities for a tick to feed. Warmer temperatures stimulate tick activity and reproduction. This combination of heat and humidity makes Maryland summers particularly high-risk.

Key Insight: Different tick species have different peak windows. Black-legged tick nymphs — the life stage most responsible for Lyme disease transmission — are most active from May through August, when they’re small enough to go unnoticed on your skin.

Although Lyme disease can be transmitted at any stage of the life cycle, most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny — about the size of a pinhead — and difficult to see. They feed during spring and summer months.

If you’re spending time outdoors in Maryland between April and September — especially near wooded or grassy areas — treat every outing as a potential tick exposure event. You’ll find more detail on outdoor activity seasons in Maryland that overlap with peak tick activity.

Types of Ticks Found in Maryland

According to the University of Maryland Extension service, six species of ticks are most commonly found in Maryland. They include American dog ticks, deer (blacklegged) ticks, lone star ticks, brown dog ticks, Gulf Coast ticks, and Asian longhorned ticks.

Here’s a closer look at the four species you’re most likely to encounter:

The tick that is perhaps most important for people in Maryland to be aware of is the deer or blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), which carries Lyme disease. This tick is mostly found in deciduous forest and is the primary carrier of Lyme disease. Its distribution relies greatly on that of its reproductive host, white-tailed deer. Adult ticks feed during the winter on white-tailed deer.

The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) commonly feeds on dogs and humans. It transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis. Their scutum is oval in shape and has large whitish markings on it. They are found in areas with little or no tree cover.

The lone star tick is easy to identify thanks to a single white dot on the back of females. It is linked to ehrlichiosis, STARI, tularemia, and the most well-known side effect — a meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome.

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), also known as the longhorned tick, cattle tick, East Asian tick, and the bush tick, is native to East Asia and was discovered in Maryland in 2018. This tick prefers to feed on wildlife and livestock, but it feeds on pets and humans as well.

Pro Tip: You can learn to identify Maryland ticks by the shape, color, and pattern of the plate (called the scutum) behind their head. The University of Maryland offers a free Maryland Tick Identification Chart with photos of each species.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Maryland

Maryland residents are at particular risk of being exposed to diseases spread by ticks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of reported tickborne illnesses more than doubled from 2004 to 2016 in the Maryland area.

While Lyme disease is the most prevalent tickborne disease in Maryland, other illnesses that can be transmitted by ticks include anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain and other spotted fever diseases, and tularemia.

Here’s what you need to know about the most common tick-borne illnesses in the state:

• Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged tick. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a distinctive “bull’s-eye” shaped skin rash called erythema migrans. If not treated, Lyme disease can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
• Anaplasmosis: Transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, signs of anaplasmosis include fever, headaches, and nausea. In rare cases, anaplasmosis can cause respiratory failure, bleeding issues, and even death.
• Babesiosis: Transmitted by infected blacklegged ticks, signs of babesiosis include fever, fatigue, and nausea. It can take up to nine weeks for symptoms to appear following a tick bite, while some cases may be asymptomatic. Babesiosis could become serious, even life-threatening, for people without a spleen, those with a weakened immune system, those with liver or kidney disease, and those aged 50 years or older.
• Ehrlichiosis: Transmitted by infected lone star ticks and blacklegged ticks, chills, muscle aches, and headaches can surface in the first five days following a bite. Some people report seeing a rash develop after suffering from fever, which can appear as red dots. In rare cases, the disease can lead to serious health issues such as damage to the brain or nervous system, organ failure, and uncontrolled bleeding.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF): While less common than Lyme, it can be fatal without quick treatment. Signs include sudden fever, headache, and muscle aches, often followed by a spotted rash.
• Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Alpha-gal syndrome is a delayed allergic response to red meat triggered by lone star tick bites. The reaction can happen 3 to 6 hours after eating red meat and may include hives, swelling, and stomach problems.
• Powassan Virus: The black-legged tick can also spread Powassan disease, a rare but serious viral illness that can cause encephalitis. You can read more about tick-borne encephalitis to understand how these neurological infections work.

Important Note: If a disease-infected tick bites you, it takes 24–48 hours to transmit the pathogen (if the tick remains attached). This means prompt removal is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection. Early treatment is equally critical — if there is a chance you have Lyme disease or any other tick-borne disease, see your health care provider as soon as possible. Early treatment may help prevent more serious illness.

High-Risk Areas and Habitats in Maryland

Maryland sits right in the heart of tick country. The state has become a zone where multiple tick species overlap, creating real health risks for residents. But not all outdoor spaces carry the same level of risk.

The risk of exposure to ticks is greatest in the woods and in the edge area between lawns and woods, but ticks can also be carried by animals into lawns and gardens and into the house by pets.

Several specific regions in Maryland stand out for elevated tick activity:

• Western Maryland (Allegany and Garrett Counties): Western Maryland’s forested ridges in Allegany and Garrett counties have some of the highest tick activity in the state. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources found that about 40% of collected ticks in these areas carry Lyme disease.
• Suburban Piedmont (Carroll and Howard Counties): The suburban Piedmont region, including Carroll and Howard counties, creates ideal edge habitat where ticks do well. These areas combine deer paths with landscaping features like barberry shrubs that give ticks good cover.
• Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore: Sandy soils and pine woods in southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore create good conditions for lone star ticks. Lone star ticks spread ehrlichiosis, and cases tend to cluster in southern Maryland and Eastern Shore wooded areas where lone star tick numbers are highest.

Since ticks cannot fly or jump, they cling to the tips of grasses and shrubs and climb onto a host that brushes by. This means trail edges, unmowed grass, leaf litter, and wooded borders around your yard are all zones where exposure is most likely.

Pro Tip: If you’re hunting or spending time in the woods during fall and winter — when deer are most active — tick exposure remains a real risk. Check out information on hunting seasons in Maryland and deer hunting season in Maryland to plan your tick prevention strategy around your outdoor schedule.

Approximately 75% of tick bites occur from ticks picked up during normal home activities — not just hikes or camping trips. Gardening, mowing the lawn, or letting your dog outside in a wooded backyard can all lead to tick exposure.

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

Prevention is your most powerful tool during tick season. A combination of protective clothing, repellents, and thorough tick checks after outdoor activities significantly reduces your risk of a bite — and the diseases that can follow.

Protective Clothing

Wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Tuck pants into socks. Tuck shirts into pants. This creates a physical barrier that makes it harder for ticks to reach your skin. Wearing light-colored clothing makes tick detection easier.

Use the Right Repellents

Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone. Not all repellents work the same way — permethrin kills ticks while DEET repels. Permethrin is used for clothing only, not skin, and will last through several washings. DEET can be sprayed on skin, pant legs, shoes, or boots.

One important caution from the CDC: don’t use oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane diol (PMD) on children under three. For children, spray arms and legs with an insect repellent containing DEET (up to 30% for adults, 10% for children) or picaridin.

Perform Thorough Tick Checks

It is very important that parents conduct a thorough inspection of children. Look along the hairline, in the hair and ears, and where clothing fits snugly. Because ticks can spread other serious illnesses, a whole body inspection every three to four hours is safest when in grassy or wooded areas.

Take a hot shower within two hours — this has been shown to be effective in preventing Lyme disease and may reduce the risk of other tick-borne illnesses as well, according to the CDC.

Protect Your Pets

On dogs and cats, ticks have a preference for where they will attach. They are often found between the toes or in the ears. These are the best places to quickly check your pet for ticks. Talk to your veterinarian about tick preventives such as topical treatments, collars, or oral medications. You can find more guidance on preventing tick-borne diseases in your dog to keep your pets safe all season long.

Manage Your Yard

Your own backyard can be a tick hotspot, especially if it borders wooded areas. Keep grass mowed short, remove leaf litter, and create a dry wood chip or gravel barrier between your lawn and any wooded edges. When you’re ready to come inside, check your clothing for ticks and remove them — or put dry clothing in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, which will kill them. If clothing requires washing first, use hot water, because cold and warm water won’t kill them.

You may also want to consider natural tick predators. While ticks can be dreadful for humans, they are a food source for frogs, lizards, chickens, squirrels, opossums, guineafowl, wild turkeys, and ants. Read more about animals that eat ticks and how encouraging certain wildlife can naturally reduce tick populations around your property.

Common Mistake: Many people only check for ticks after hikes or camping. But remember there can be ticks in your yard, so take the same precautions when gardening or playing outdoors. Routine yard activities carry more tick risk than most people realize.

What to Do If You Find a Tick in Maryland

Finding a tick on yourself, your child, or your pet can be alarming, but staying calm and acting quickly is the most important thing you can do. Proper removal reduces the risk of disease transmission significantly.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers. If the tick has been attached, use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Try to capture the animal’s head instead of its body.
2. Pull steadily and straight out. When you pull it out, pull directly away from your skin in a slow, steady movement. Don’t twist, jerk, or slide. This can cause the mouthparts to break off and stay lodged in the skin.
3. Clean the bite area. Once the tick has been removed, thoroughly wash the area with soap and water and then scrub it with iodine or rubbing alcohol.
4. Save the tick if possible. Save the tick on a piece of clear tape and place it in the freezer, noting the date it was removed. You can send the tick to a lab to be identified. The University of Maryland offers a Tick Identification service that can help determine the species and potential disease risk.
5. Record the date. Mark a calendar on the date you found the tick and watch for symptoms for at least a month. If a rash develops or you experience other symptoms within 3 to 32 days, call your physician immediately.

Important Note: Do NOT use Vaseline, liquid soap, a cotton ball, or touch the tick with a match. These methods are ineffective and can increase the risk of infection by causing the tick to expel its contents into the wound.

Wondering how ticks find hosts and attach in the first place? Understanding how ticks reproduce and behave can help you better anticipate where and when exposure is most likely.

Watch for Symptoms

After a tick bite, monitor yourself and your family members closely. For all tick-borne diseases, there is a list of similar symptoms to be aware of, including fever, headache, fatigue, rash, and body aches. If you or a loved one are experiencing such symptoms following a tick bite or being in an area where ticks are common, please contact your healthcare provider.

Most tick-borne diseases can be cured with antibiotics, especially when treatment begins early. Don’t wait to see a doctor if symptoms develop.

Reporting Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Illness in Maryland

Maryland has a public health infrastructure in place to track and respond to tick-borne illness across the state. Knowing how and where to report a bite or illness helps both your own care and the broader effort to monitor disease trends.

What Patients Should Do

If you believe you have a tick-borne illness, contact your healthcare provider. Your doctor can order blood tests to confirm a diagnosis and begin treatment promptly. Delaying treatment can lead to severe illness.

The Maryland Department of Health maintains a dedicated tick resource page at health.maryland.gov/tick where you can find current disease data, prevention resources, and county-level health department contacts.

Tick Identification Resources

If you’ve removed a tick and want it identified, Maryland offers several options:

• University of Maryland Tick Identification Service: Use the Tick Identification service at the University of Maryland. Submit the tick with the date it was removed and the location on the body where it was found.
• Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA): Tick identification is available through the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA).
• UMass Amherst Diagnostic Lab: The diagnostic lab at UMass Amherst identifies ticks and tests for the most common pathogens based on tick species.

For Healthcare Providers

Tick-borne diseases are reportable conditions in Maryland. Howard County Healthcare Providers who need to submit a reportable illness case to the Health Department should call 410-313-1412. Providers may also email infectiousdisease@howardcountymd.gov for assistance. Each county health department operates its own reporting channel, so providers should contact their local health department for jurisdiction-specific protocols.

Pro Tip: To learn more about tickborne diseases and ways to protect your family and pets, visit the MDH website at health.maryland.gov/tick. For updates on protecting you and your family against tickborne diseases, follow MDH throughout May at their social media channels — May is officially recognized as Tickborne Disease Awareness Month in Maryland.

Staying informed is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do during tick season. By knowing when ticks are most active, where they live, and how to respond quickly to a bite, you put yourself in the best position to enjoy Maryland’s outdoors safely. If you’re planning outdoor activities in neighboring states during their own high-risk seasons, check out guides on outdoor seasons in Ohio or Wisconsin — tick awareness applies wherever you’re headed into wooded or grassy terrain.