Best Time to See Ticks in Kansas
May, June and April is the best time to see ticks in Kansas. Based on 817 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when ticks are most active across the year in Kansas.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
American Dog Tick · Nova Patch CC BY-SA
American Dog Tick · Matthew Lindsey CC BY
Asian Longhorned Tick · Zachary Dankowicz CC BY
817 verified observations of ticks in Kansas, recorded across 11 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When ticks are recorded in Kansas
Peak month
May
293 records (35.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0% |
| February | 4 | 0.5% |
| March | 46 | 5.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 144 | 17.6% |
| Maypeak | 293 | 35.9% |
| Junepeak | 172 | 21.1% |
| July | 89 | 10.9% |
| August | 36 | 4.4% |
| September | 16 | 2% |
| October | 6 | 0.7% |
| November | 4 | 0.5% |
| December | 7 | 0.9% |
Ticks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Lone Star Tick | 444 |
| American Dog Tick | 212 |
| Gulf Coast Tick | 70 |
| Eastern Black-legged Tick | 24 |
| Alectorobius kelleyi | 3 |
| Winter tick | 1 |
| Relapsing Fever Tick | 1 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in Kansas
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when ticks are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for ticks sit around 45 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 1.1" |
| Feb | 43°F | 22°F | 1.1" |
| Mar | 55°F | 35°F | 2.2" |
| Aprbest time | 67°F | 45°F | 1.2" |
| Maybest time | 74°F | 55°F | 6.5" |
| Junbest time | 87°F | 67°F | 3.7" |
| Jul | 91°F | 71°F | 2.3" |
| Aug | 90°F | 70°F | 1.8" |
| Sep | 84°F | 64°F | 1.7" |
| Oct | 68°F | 48°F | 1.3" |
| Nov | 56°F | 37°F | 1.3" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 1.1" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for Kansas. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on ticks in Kansas:
Sightings of ticks in Kansas peak in May, when 293 of the year's 817 verified observations are logged — about 35.9% of the annual total. Activity stays high through May, June and April.
The quietest stretch is January, when ticks are hardest to find — no verified records exist for January. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The ticks you are most likely to encounter in Kansas are Lone Star Tick, American Dog Tick and Gulf Coast Tick — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see ticks in Kansas
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve — National Preserve
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park — National Historical Park
- California National Historic Trail — National Historic Trail
- Fort Larned National Historic Site — National Historic Site
- Fort Scott National Historic Site — National Historic Site
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see ticks in Kansas?+
May is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through May, June and April, based on 817 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are ticks hardest to see in Kansas?+
January is the quietest month for ticks in Kansas, with no verified records on iNaturalist.
Are ticks active year-round in Kansas?+
Ticks are recorded in 11 of 12 months in Kansas, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in May.
More places to see ticks
More wildlife in Kansas