04/01/2026
🕷️ Fall & Winter Tick Prevention Tips
Even though temperatures drop, ticks don’t completely disappear in the fall and winter. Some species, like the blacklegged (deer) tick, remain active whenever it’s above 4°C (39°F) — which can happen frequently through fall and mild winter days.
🍂 1. Stay Vigilant Outdoors
• Ticks remain active in leaf litter and brushy areas well into late fall.
• When hiking, raking leaves, or spending time outdoors, stick to clear trails and avoid tall grass or piles of leaves.
🧥 2. Dress for Protection
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and tuck pants into socks.
• Choose light-coloured clothing to easily spot ticks.
• Use tick repellents such as a DEET FREE product like PiACTIVE.
🏡 3. Keep Your Yard Tick-Free
• Rake leaves and clear brushy areas where ticks hide.
• Create a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas.
• Stack firewood neatly in a dry area to discourage rodents (which carry ticks).
• If you have pets, keep them away from wooded edges and treat them with veterinarian-approved tick preventatives year-round.
🐾 4. Check Pets (and Yourself) Regularly
• After outdoor activities, check your pets, especially around ears, neck, and between toes.
• Shower within two hours of coming indoors and perform a full-body tick check.
❄️ 5. Don’t Skip Winter Treatments
• Ticks can attach to pets even during warm winter spells.
• Continue monthly tick preventatives through winter unless your vet advises otherwise.
🌿 6. Consider a Preventative Yard Treatment
• An eco-friendly tick spray in late fall can reduce overwintering ticks and protect your yard early next spring.
• Professional treatments target areas where ticks shelter during the cold months — under leaves, wood piles, and shady spots.
