Ticks Thrive Across Maine as Peak Season Arrives

Maine is experiencing a significant surge in tick activity, with residents reporting the blood-sucking arachnids in backyards, on hiking trails, and even crawling across porches and playground equipment.

The reason for the abundance, according to experts, is that both of Maine's most common tick species—the deer tick and the dog tick—are simultaneously in the adult stage of their life cycles.

"We have multiple species all active right now," said Griffin Dill, who manages the Tick Lab at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. "It gives the impression that we are inundated with ticks."

The two species differ in both appearance and risk level. Deer ticks are roughly the size of a sesame seed when fully grown, with a red-orange body, a dark patch near the head, and black legs. Dog ticks are larger, with a reddish-brown body and legs, and distinctive grayish-white markings on their backs.

While both types are nuisance pests, only the deer tick poses a serious health threat. Deer ticks transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, whereas dog ticks are primarily a nuisance. Though dog ticks can theoretically carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, no confirmed cases have originated in Maine.

Those numbers underscore the public health stakes. Maine reported a record 4,257 cases of Lyme disease in 2025, and another 946 cases had already been logged through early June 2026, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease has now been documented in all 16 of Maine's counties, though tick populations remain most dense along the coast, particularly in Midcoast areas.

Dill explained that the two species have evolved to thrive in different environments. Deer ticks, which require moisture to survive, tend to stay hidden under leaf litter or within wooded areas where they are shielded from sun and wind. Dog ticks are far more resilient and can be found in open lawns, fields, and even gravel driveways.

"Dog ticks are much hardier," Dill said. "You could see one when walking down your gravel driveway to pick up the mail."

Adult dog ticks will remain prevalent through early August before their population declines. Adult deer ticks will continue to be active for several more weeks before dying off, but a new concern emerges in July: nymphal deer ticks, which are roughly the size of a poppy seed and notoriously difficult to spot, will become abundant and can still attach to hosts and transmit disease.

Maine typically sees a brief reprieve from tick activity in August, particularly if the weather is dry, but adult deer ticks return in force during the fall.

Health officials recommend several precautions for anyone spending time outdoors. Applying tick repellent before heading outside, wearing long sleeves, and tucking pants into socks can significantly reduce the risk of a bite. After returning indoors, people should check their clothing for ticks and immediately place garments in a dryer set to high heat—the dryer's sustained warmth will kill any ticks that may be clinging to fabric. Experts also advise doing thorough tick checks on both family members and pets, and remaining vigilant when handling firewood or raking leaves.

If a tick does attach, prompt removal is essential. Using tweezers, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull slowly upward with steady pressure. A deer tick typically needs to be attached for at least 24 hours before it can transmit disease, but not everyone develops the characteristic bull's-eye rash that often signals infection. Anyone who finds an attached tick should contact their primary care provider, especially if symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, headaches, or fever develop. Early treatment with antibiotics is effective against Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Residents who find a tick and want it identified can submit it to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Tick Lab. Instructions and submission forms are available on the lab's website.