One of the great myths about nature in the U.S. is the death of ticks in the winter months. A commonly held misconception is that ticks die off when the cooler months of the year arrive. This is not true for the majority of ticks living in the wilds of the U.S. The species of tick and the age of an individual in the winter months play a role in their chances of survival from Fall to Spring.
The activity of ticks tends to be high in the warmer months of the year when they are found in most areas of the U.S. The commonly held misconception is that ticks die off when the temperature falls and the Winter arrives. Ticks are indeed most active in the U.S. during the warmer months, with the American Dog Tick remaining active at temperatures above 45 degrees. As long as the ground remains above freezing, Blacklegged ticks continue to remain active and carry Lyme Disease.
If ticks remain active to certain temperatures and weather conditions, you need to know the problems associated with cold weather and ticks. The majority of ticks become dormant when the temperatures dip below a certain temperature. When the air temperature falls, a tick will look for a host to live off until the Spring. The host could be a human or an animal that comes into contact with the tick in the natural world.
The tick is an impressive insect that has developed several options for remaining safe during the cooler months of the year. Among the options, a tick will look for is an area of leaves and dirt to burrow beneath to stay warm in the winter months. Even when it snows, a tick will use the compacted snow as an insulator to keep itself warm and dry.