Minnesota’s Tick Season Is Here: Is It Really Worse Than Last Year?

If you've been outdoors over the last few weeks, you might have found a tick or two crawling on you or a pet afterwards. It's something that comes with living in Minnesota, but heading into this summer, experts were telling us that this might be a bad year for ticks. So has it been really bad, or just average?

Has 2026 Been Worse Than 2025?

In April, a Minnesota ecologist told WCCO that surveys showed tick numbers were roughly average; however, due to an early spring, people were seeing more ticks earlier than expected.

While this year hasn't seen a 'tick explosion,' Minnesota's tick population and tick-borne disease risks have been trending upward over the years, making even an average season feel pretty intense.

Peak Deer Tick Season

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, we have entered peak deer tick season. June is peak deer tick season in Minnesota. Adult deer ticks are active through June, and tiny nymphs, which are responsible for many Lyme disease cases, reach peak activity in late May and June.

The good news, if you want to look at it that way, is that after June, ticks aren't as active until the fall, meaning we get a lull. Then, come September and October, you'll be finding them again, seemingly everywhere.

What Can You Do To Avoid Ticks?

Short of keeping yourself and your pets indoors, there isn't much you can do about ticks right now. You can keep your lawn mowed and make sure there isn't a lot of debris around, like leaves. If you are active outdoors, wear light colored clothing to easily spot ticks, as well as wear long sleeves in brushy areas.

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Of course, if you have a pet, make sure you are treating them for ticks and fleas with prescription meds.

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