Why Tick Season Never Ends Anymore—And How to Protect Your Family Year-Round
Overview
Recent changes in climate have created year-round tick activity with expanding populations, making family protection critical. Essential strategies include defensive clothing, staying on trail centers, tick checks within 2 hours of outdoor activity, and home habitat modifications. Prevention is the best defense against rising tick-borne diseases.
Summer's longer days drive everyone outdoors—and into prime tick territory. But did you know that tick season has grown longer and year-round?
According to this recent New York Times article, the tick population is expanding and diversifying due to rising temperatures brought about by recent changes in climate. As the tick population increases, there is an accompanying rise in tick-borne illness. Even celebrity Justin Timberlake recently announced that he has been diagnosed with Lyme Disease and called it “relentlessly debilitating.” What’s that mean? Strategic prevention becomes critical for you and your family.
From the New York Times: "Marc Lame, an entomologist and clinical professor emeritus at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, put it simply: 'There are more and different types of ticks around than there used to be, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.'"
"There are more and different types of ticks around than there used to be, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon." —Marc Lame, entomologist and clinical professor emeritus at Indiana University
What’s that mean for you? The best offense is great defense. Read on for what you can do to stay safe out there.
Smart Outdoor Strategies
Choose your path wisely. Stick to trail centers and avoid tall grasses where ticks congregate. When hiking or gardening becomes unavoidable in high-risk areas, timing matters—ticks are most active during humid, warm conditions.
Dress defensively:
- Light-colored, long-sleeved clothing reveals ticks quickly
- Tuck pants into socks or boots
- Consider permethrin-treated garments for extended outdoor exposure
Post-Exposure Protocol
Execute immediate tick checks focusing on warm, moist attachment sites:
- Scalp and hairline
- Behind ears and knees
- Underarms and waistline
- Between toes and around ankles
Shower within two hours of outdoor activity—this removes unattached ticks and enables thorough inspection.
Advanced Prevention Tactics
There are also things you can do around your house to lessen the potential for ticks to be hiding around your home. Eliminate tick habitats by taking away where they might hide and thrive:
- Maintain short lawns through regular mowing
- Clear leaf litter and brush piles
- Install gravel barriers between lawns and wooded areas
Beyond external prevention, think also about your personal protection. Consider how you can fortify your immune function, microbial balance, and detoxification pathways during peak tick season. Herbal extract protocols, when used under the supervision of a healthcare professional, may serve as a supportive complement to preventive health measures.
When Prevention Fails
Remove ticks immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp close to skin, pull upward steadily without twisting, then disinfect the bite site.
Document everything. Note removal date, tick appearance, and bite location. Monitor for expanding rashes or flu-like symptoms over the following weeks.
"Prevention continues to be absolutely the best thing you can do. Be smart. And if you do get bit by a tick? Don’t panic. But please consult a healthcare professional at the first sign of complications. Time and treatment are important factors for your health," says Debby Hamilton, M.D., Director of Product Education and Clinical Research at NutraMedix.
"Prevention continues to be absolutely the best thing you can do. Be smart. And if you do get bit by a tick? Don't panic. But please consult a healthcare professional at the first sign of complications." —Dr. Debby Hamilton