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April 25, 2025
Are ticks already active in Maine? Short answer: yes. And they're not wasting any time.
Even though it feels like winter just left the building, ticks in Maine are already making a comeback. Early spring is when we start to see a spike in activity, especially from deer ticks (also known as blacklegged ticks), which are known carriers of Lyme disease.
In fact, one of our customer service representatives recently found several ticks on her dog after a walk in her yard. (Don’t worry—we’ve already treated her property to stop that from happening again!) It's a not-so-subtle reminder that tick season doesn’t start in June—it’s already begun.
Early-season ticks are a real threat
Ticks don’t punch a clock or follow the calendar. Once it’s warm enough, they’re on the move—and that includes early spring. The deer tick is already active in wooded areas, tall grasses, and even our backyards.
One of the biggest dangers in the spring comes from tick nymphs. These are immature ticks about the size of a poppy seed and are notoriously hard to spot. Unfortunately, they’re also more likely to carry Lyme disease and other pathogens than adult ticks. If you're not actively checking for them, you may not know you've been bitten until symptoms appear.
The bottom line is that just because you're not sweating yet doesn’t mean ticks aren’t lurking.
Lyme Disease isn’t the only concern
Most people associate ticks with Lyme disease, and with good reason. Maine reports hundreds of Lyme cases every year, and the numbers tend to rise in the summer. But Lyme isn’t the only illness ticks can carry. In our region, ticks transmit other illnesses, including:
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Powassan virus
- Alpha-gal syndrome (yes, the one that can trigger an allergy to red meat)
These diseases can affect people and pets, and in some cases, cause serious long-term health issues. That’s why early prevention matters.
Make your yard less tick-friendly
Ticks love shady, moist areas with tall grass, dense brush, and fallen leaves—all the things many Maine yards naturally have. While you can’t eliminate every tick (especially in rural areas), you can make your yard less appealing.
Here are a few practical steps you can take right now:
- Keep your lawn short and trim the brush along walkways and fences
- Clear out leaf litter, especially around the edges of your property
- Stack firewood neatly in a dry area away from your home
- Use gravel to create a barrier between wooded areas and the lawn
- Discourage wildlife traffic by securing trash bins and cleaning up fallen birdseed
- Ask about tick treatments for season-long prevention
These steps aren’t just for aesthetics—they help break up the environment that ticks rely on to survive and reproduce.
Protect your pets, too
Dogs and outdoor cats are especially vulnerable. Even if treated with tick prevention meds, they can still carry ticks indoors.
Do daily tick checks, especially around:
- Ears
- Neck
- Between toes
- Under the tail
And yes—if you’re wondering—our customer service rep’s dog is doing fine, but it was a good reminder that ticks don’t wait until June to start causing trouble.
Pine State offers effective tick control
At Pine State, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to pest control, especially when it comes to ticks. We provide customized tick treatments for yards across Central and Southern Maine, including Auburn, Augusta, and Cape Elizabeth.
Our highly trained pest pros understand Maine’s climate, tick life cycles, and the habits of local wildlife that help ticks thrive. With strategic treatments, we’ll help reduce the number of ticks on your property so you and your pets can enjoy your yard without worry.
Don’t wait until summer
If you’re already seeing ticks or just want to get ahead of the season, now is the perfect time to act. Tick activity will only increase from here, and the best defense is early action.
Contact Pine State Pest Solutions to schedule your spring tick service and take the first step toward a safer, more comfortable yard.
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