Do Fleas and Ticks Bite in Winter?
While pests like fleas and ticks thrive in humid, warm conditions, they can also live (and bite!) throughout the winter. It’s true they cannot endure freezing weather for extended periods, but they often find ways to survive anyway. In fact, some species of tick are most active in winter.
Fleas and ticks have several methods for surviving freezing conditions. While fleas cannot hibernate or enter a dormant stage, ticks can. Going dormant on a host or under brush is actually a tick’s primary means of remaining alive through winter. Fleas, however, mostly seek warmth in shelters or hosts—like inside your home or on your pet.
Do I Still Need to Treat for Fleas and Ticks in Winter?
Absolutely. Regardless of your environment, we suggest protecting your pets, your home, and yourself from fleas and ticks year-round. The risks are simply too great. A single flea slipping through the cracks can lead to a full blown flea population in no time. Ticks are another matter entirely, carrying all kinds of devastating diseases (Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, American boutonneuse fever, Powassan virus, tularemia, Colorado tick fever, tick paralysis, and more). For this reason, prevention is key, and ensuring your yard is inhospitable to fleas and ticks is the best way to prevent pests from getting into your house.
First, remove all sources of clutter and debris from your lawn—this is where fleas and ticks will likely hide during cold snaps. Second, apply a monthly preventative yard treatment like Yard Guard, a naturally-sourced outdoor pesticide.
For indoor prevention, you may wish to put some Yard Guard in a trigger spray bottle and regularly spray possible entry points—doorways, window sills, baseboards, attics, basements, etc—to create a repellent barrier against fleas and ticks.
As always, if you have any questions about our products feel free to email us at [email protected]!
