Tick Season in Rhode Island: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but when it comes to tick activity, it punches well above its weight. Rhode Island has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the country, and the risks go well beyond Lyme alone. Whether you’re hiking a wooded trail, gardening in your backyard, or walking your dog through a neighborhood park, ticks can be closer than you think.

Understanding tick season in Rhode Island — when it starts, which species are active, and how to protect yourself — is one of the most practical steps you can take for your family’s health. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from the first warm days of spring through the cooler months of fall.

Key Insight: Thomas Mather, director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and the TickEncounter Resource Center, has noted that the population of ticks across New England is the highest and most diverse it’s ever been.

When Is Tick Season in Rhode Island

Ticks are found throughout Rhode Island. Tick-borne diseases are transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. You are most likely to be bitten by a tick in the spring, summer, or fall; however, ticks can survive in the winter if temperatures are above freezing.

Warmer, wetter weather is creating the perfect breeding ground for ticks, and earlier seasonal starts mean ticks now become active when temperatures exceed 40°F, often as early as March. That means the traditional idea of a “summer tick season” no longer tells the whole story.

May is the “tickiest” month of the year in Rhode Island, with the greatest diversity of ticks. Adult deer ticks that didn’t feed in the fall may still be active, along with deer tick nymphs, and adult dog ticks and lone star ticks being most active. Lone star tick nymphs are also around in May.

Many people assume tick activity winds down in fall, but that assumption can be dangerous. By October, it’s mainly adult blacklegged ticks that people have to worry about, and about 85% of TickSpotters’ submissions from around the country during October and November are for adult blacklegged ticks. Staying alert through late autumn is just as important as being cautious in the height of summer. You can also learn more about how ticks reproduce to better understand why populations remain so persistent across seasons.

Important Note: Increasing numbers of ticks can be attributed to environmental factors such as more moderate winters (allowing ticks alive in autumn to survive over the winter), hotter temperatures in the summer, and more rainfall.

Types of Ticks Found in Rhode Island

There are about nine species of ticks encountered in Rhode Island, and across the U.S., but the most prevalent are blacklegged ticks (or deer ticks), lone star ticks, and American dog ticks. More recently, a fourth invasive species has established itself in the state.

Here’s a closer look at the main species you may encounter:

The major tick of concern in Rhode Island is the blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick. It transmits the pathogens that can cause diseases such as Lyme, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis, all of which have rising cases and are expected to continue to increase.

Lone star ticks were formerly southern in distribution and have recently spread northward, including expansion into Rhode Island. The American dog tick is present widely in the eastern U.S., and warmer temperatures may result in larger populations in the northern U.S. and Canada.

The Asian longhorned tick, not usually found in the Western Hemisphere, was first discovered in New Jersey in 2017 and is now established in at least 20 states including Rhode Island. It does not bite as aggressively as native tick species, but in other countries, the pathogens spread via bites can make people and animals seriously ill.

Pro Tip: Even though the diseases that ticks carry vary by species, all ticks need to be protected against. Don’t let your guard down based on which species you think is in your area.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Rhode Island

Tick-borne diseases and conditions transmitted through tick bites in Rhode Island include Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Powassan (POW), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia. Each disease carries its own set of symptoms and risks, and early recognition is key to effective treatment.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial disease causing symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic bullseye rash. Late symptoms can include arthritis, neurological problems, and heart disease. Lyme disease can be successfully treated with a course of antibiotics. One in four ticks in Rhode Island carry the germ causing Lyme disease.

Babesiosis is a tick-borne, parasitic disease caused by protozoa. Symptoms range from subclinical to life-threatening and mimic malaria, appearing one to nine weeks after the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Many infected people have no symptoms; others experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue. In 2024, there were 161 cases of babesiosis in Rhode Island, with an incidence rate of 14.7 cases per 100,000 people. Washington County has the highest case rate.

Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne, bacterial diseases that typically cause fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches one to two weeks following a tick bite. Anaplasmosis is most common in the upper Midwest and Northeast states, corresponding with the geographical distribution of Lyme disease. In 2024, Rhode Island had 86 cases of anaplasmosis, with a rate of 7.8 cases per 100,000 people.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases of Powassan virus in the Northeast, including the identification of Rhode Island’s first case in 2016. Powassan can cause fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness, and in severe cases, neurological complications.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is one of the more unusual conditions linked to tick bites. 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 of red meat. That can make it difficult to identify the food that triggered the reactions. You can read more about tick-borne encephalitis and other serious conditions associated with tick exposure.

Common Mistake: Diagnosing a tick-borne illness can be tricky because symptoms may not develop for up to 30 days in some cases. People who have been infected often feel like they have a cold or flu in the beginning. That’s when they should go to the doctor, because if left untreated, more serious complications, and even death in rare cases, may develop.

High-Risk Areas and Habitats in Rhode Island

Ticks are most active from spring through September when it’s warm. They live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Spending time outside walking your dog, gardening, or camping can bring you in close contact with these pests.

Ticks that are located in the brush and on tall grasses come into contact with humans as we pass through these environments. The ticks can then crawl up sleeves and bite the skin, typically around warm areas under the hair.

Across Rhode Island, certain environments carry elevated risk:

• Wooded trails and forest edges — especially where trees meet open fields
• State parks and campgrounds — as the weather warms and Rhode Islanders return to state parks, campgrounds, and management areas, so do ticks
• Coastal shrublands and island habitats — lone star ticks, which have moved northward for a decade, were previously only found off Rhode Island’s shore on Prudence Island but have since infested Conanicut Island
• Backyards with leaf litter and tall grass — particularly those bordering wooded areas
• Athletic fields and trail edges — where maintained grass meets unmaintained vegetation

A thorough assessment of your property can identify areas where ticks are most likely to live. These areas typically include wooded edges, tall grasses, leaf piles, and shady, moist spots.

Washington County in particular sees elevated tick-borne disease rates. Washington County has the highest babesiosis case rate in the state. If you spend time outdoors in southern Rhode Island, extra vigilance is warranted. You might also find it useful to review information about other wildlife concerns in Rhode Island when planning outdoor activities.

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

RIDOH’s ongoing Tick Free Rhode Island campaign highlights three keys to tick safety: repel, check, and remove. Building these habits into your outdoor routine can significantly reduce your family’s risk of tick bites and tick-borne illness.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

• Use repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
• Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts when outside. Tuck your pants into your socks so ticks do not crawl under your clothes. Wear light-colored clothing so you can see ticks more easily.
• If you are going to be in a wooded area, walk in the center of the trail to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaves at the edges of the trail.
• Throw clothes into the dryer instead of the washer after spending time outside — the heat kills ticks more effectively than washing alone.

Performing Tick Checks

After any time outdoors, a thorough tick check is one of your most effective defenses. Check yourself for ticks daily, especially under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and on the hairline and scalp. Shower soon after being outdoors.

Do a full-body tick check using a mirror; parents should check their kids for ticks and pay special attention to the area in and around the ears, in the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and in their hair.

Pro Tip: You can assess your yard conditions before heading outside to determine whether ticks will be out and about. Ticks don’t like dry weather — wet weather provides the climate ticks need to thrive. After a rainy stretch, be especially diligent with tick checks.

Protecting Your Pets

Ticks can make dogs sick with many of the same diseases as humans. Cats are also susceptible to Lyme disease. Your pets can also carry ticks into your home, putting the whole family at risk.

Use veterinarian-recommended flea and tick preventatives, regularly check your pets for ticks, and avoid letting them roam in heavily wooded or grassy areas where ticks are more likely to be found. For more detailed guidance on keeping your dog safe, see these tips for preventing tick-borne diseases in your dog. You can also learn about animals that eat ticks as a natural form of tick population control in your yard.

Yard and Property Management

• Remove leaf litter from your yard regularly
• Clear tall grasses and brush around your home and at the edge of lawns
• Place a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration
• Mow the lawn frequently
• Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees

What to Do If You Find a Tick in Rhode Island

Finding a tick attached to your skin can feel alarming, but staying calm and acting quickly makes all the difference. The sooner you remove a tick, the lower your risk of disease transmission. An infected tick usually needs to be attached to a person for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
3. Don’t twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause its mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If you are unable to remove the mouth parts easily, leave them alone and let the skin heal.
4. Be careful not to squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash hands.
5. Save the tick in a sealed bag or container — this can be helpful if you later develop symptoms and need to show a healthcare provider.

Important Note: Using nail polish, petroleum jelly, or heat to make the tick detach from the skin won’t work — and these methods can actually increase the risk of disease transmission by stressing the tick.

After Tick Removal

Clean the bite area and monitor for symptoms. If you notice any signs of illness, consult a healthcare professional promptly. Watch for a bullseye rash, fever, fatigue, headache, or muscle aches in the days and weeks following a bite.

Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and discuss whether you have been exposed to a potential tick habitat. Laboratory tests can be ordered to determine if there is an organism present in your blood or if your blood contains antibodies to an organism. Most tick-borne diseases are treated with antibiotics. Your healthcare provider will determine the appropriate medication and duration of treatment that is right for your condition.

You can also submit a photo of the tick to the University of Rhode Island’s TickEncounter Resource Center, which offers tick identification and risk assessment through its TickSpotters program. TickSpotters will identify the tick and respond to the submission with a risk assessment and easy-to-follow tick bite prevention tips.

Reporting Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Illness in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has a robust system for tracking tick-borne illness, and reporting plays an important role in protecting public health statewide. When cases are reported, health officials can identify trends, allocate resources, and issue timely warnings to communities.

Providers are required by state regulation to report positive tick-borne laboratory results, including rare and unusual conditions such as Alpha-gal syndrome and Borrelia miyamotoi. RIDOH follows up with providers as needed to obtain any additional clinical information and tracks reports over time to detect potential increases in disease and to identify opportunities for outreach.

As part of its tick prevention campaign, RIDOH has launched an interactive dashboard with data on several tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Ehrlichiosis. The dashboard makes data available by case counts and case rates by year, sex, county, city, and town. You can access this dashboard at health.ri.gov/data/tickborne.

What You Can Do as a Rhode Island Resident

• See your doctor promptly if you develop symptoms after a tick bite — early treatment is far more effective than delayed care
• Tell your provider about the bite including when and where it occurred, and how long the tick may have been attached
• Submit tick photos to URI’s TickSpotters program for identification and a personalized risk assessment
• Report unusual symptoms even if a tick bite wasn’t noticed — many people are bitten without realizing it

RIDOH tracks reports over time to detect potential increases in disease and to identify opportunities for outreach. They also perform outreach to a variety of partners including healthcare providers, school nurse teachers, and the general public to increase knowledge of tick-borne diseases and to promote behaviors that can prevent illness.

Key Insight: Rhode Island is likely to remain in the main region experiencing Lyme and other major tick-borne diseases for the foreseeable future. Staying informed and connected to local health resources is one of the most effective long-term strategies for protecting yourself and your community.

Tick season in Rhode Island demands year-round awareness, not just a few months of caution in the summer. By understanding when and where ticks are most active, recognizing the diseases they carry, and following consistent prevention habits, you can enjoy everything the Ocean State’s outdoors has to offer while keeping your family safe. If you enjoy outdoor activities in Rhode Island, you may also want to explore information on dove hunting season in Rhode Island and roadkill laws in Rhode Island as part of your broader outdoor preparedness planning.