Are There Ticks in Pennsylvania?
Yes, ticks are very common throughout Pennsylvania, particularly in wooded areas and grasslands. The blacklegged tick, which can carry Lyme disease, is established across the state. American dog ticks and Lone star ticks are also present. Tick encounters are frequent from spring through fall, making prevention and prompt removal essential for anyone spending time outdoors in Pennsylvania.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 21, 2026.
American Dog Tick · Nova Patch CC BY-SA
American Dog Tick · Matthew Lindsey CC BY
Asian Longhorned Tick · Zachary Dankowicz CC BY
- 3,201
- GBIF records
Yes, ticks are in Pennsylvania. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
5 types of ticks recorded in Pennsylvania
5 tick species have a verified observation record in Pennsylvania, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
1 of the 5 shown is recorded as introduced to Pennsylvania rather than native.
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Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Yes, ticks are very common throughout Pennsylvania, particularly in wooded areas and grasslands. The blacklegged tick, which can carry Lyme disease, is established across the state. American dog ticks and Lone star ticks are also present. Tick encounters are frequent from spring through fall, making prevention and prompt removal essential for anyone spending time outdoors in Pennsylvania.
Are they in Pennsylvania?
Yes, ticks are abundant throughout Pennsylvania, especially in areas with forests and fields. The blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick, is widespread across the entire state and thrives in the mixed forests of the Appalachian plateau and the eastern deciduous woodlands. American dog ticks are equally established and common in grassy and brushy habitats statewide. The Lone star tick has expanded northward into Pennsylvania's southern and central regions and is becoming increasingly common. You will find these ticks in state parks, nature preserves, hiking trails, and private woodlands virtually everywhere in Pennsylvania. Urban and suburban areas with trees and vegetation also support tick populations. Counties across the northern tier, the central ridge provinces, and the southeastern regions all report significant tick activity. Learn more aboutTick in Pennsylvaniato understand your local risk and prepare for outdoor adventures.
How dangerous is it?
Tick bites in Pennsylvania carry a genuine risk of Lyme disease transmission, making prompt detection and removal important. Lyme disease, caused by bacteria carried by blacklegged ticks, occurs regularly in Pennsylvania, particularly in forested regions. Symptoms include a circular rash, fever, joint pain, and fatigue appearing days to weeks after infection. If treated early with antibiotics, Lyme disease has an excellent prognosis. Without treatment, the infection can cause long-term joint and neurological complications. American dog ticks and Lone star ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, though this is much less common in Pennsylvania than in western states. The good news is that tick-borne diseases are treatable when caught early, and most people who remove ticks promptly and seek medical care for symptoms recover fully. Deaths from tick-borne illness are very rare in healthy adults with access to proper medical treatment.
How to recognize one
Blacklegged ticks are small, roughly the size of a sesame seed before feeding. Unfed adult ticks are reddish-brown with a dark brown shield. Nymphs, which are active in late spring and summer, are tiny, about the size of a poppy seed, making them harder to spot. American dog ticks are larger and tan to reddish-brown with white markings on the shield. Lone star ticks have a distinctive white spot on the shield of females, which makes them easier to identify. All ticks have eight legs and a flat body that swells when feeding. They typically cling to tall grass, brush, and low vegetation from knee height to shoulder height, waiting to grab onto passing humans and animals. Ticks crawl upward along your body seeking warm, moist skin folds.Pennsylvania wildlifeinformation can help you recognize other creatures you encounter while outdoors.
What to do if you are bitten or stung
If you find an attached tick, remain calm and remove it as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as you can and pull straight out with steady, firm pressure. Do not twist, jerk, or crush the tick, as these actions may squeeze disease-carrying fluids into your bite. Avoid using your bare fingers. Clean the bite area thoroughly with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Place the tick in a sealed container if you wish to have it identified or tested. Do not apply heat, petroleum jelly, or other substances to the tick. This is general information, not medical advice; if you are bitten, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe. Monitor the bite area and your health over the next two weeks, and seek medical care if you develop fever, rash, fatigue, or joint pain.
How to prevent encounters
Tick prevention in Pennsylvania is straightforward but requires consistent effort, especially during warmer months. Wear long pants tucked into socks and long-sleeved shirts when hiking or working in areas with tall grass or brush. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to see. Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin or permethrin to clothing, following product instructions carefully. After spending time outdoors, remove your clothes and inspect your entire body for ticks, paying special attention to the scalp, hairline, neck, armpits, groin, and behind knees. Shower within a few hours if possible and wash clothing in hot water. Check pets and children thoroughly, as ticks hide easily in hair. At home, clear leaves and dead branches from your yard, keep grass trimmed short, and remove wood piles and brush shelters away from living areas.Our wildlife guidesprovide comprehensive outdoor safety information for all seasons.
Where in Pennsylvania and when
Ticks are found in nearly every Pennsylvania county in habitats including deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, grassy fields, shrubby areas, and parks. The Appalachian regions of central and western Pennsylvania harbor particularly high tick populations. Pocono areas, state game lands, and national forest properties have abundant ticks. Suburban yards with trees and shrubs support ticks as well. Tick season in Pennsylvania extends from March or April through October or even November, with peak activity in May and June when nymphs emerge and adults are most active. Late spring and early summer pose the highest risk for tick encounters. Even winter mild spells may activate ticks briefly. The risk remains elevated through September and into October as adult ticks become active again.Wildlife in Pennsylvaniareflects seasonal patterns across many creatures.
Harmless lookalikes
Many small arthropods and insects encountered in Pennsylvania are mistaken for dangerous ticks but are actually harmless. Seed ticks, which are extremely small and clump together, often cause alarm but are not dangerous. Mites, including chiggers and wood mites, closely resemble tick nymphs and may be confused with them. Small spiders and pseudo-scorpions have eight legs and may appear tick-like to the untrained eye. Bed bugs, though parasitic and requiring treatment, do not transmit disease like ticks. If you find something that might be a tick, the safest approach is prompt removal using tweezers. Most eight-legged creatures found on your body or clothes in Pennsylvania are harmless. The distinguishing feature of actual ticks is their embedding behavior and body structure. If uncertain, consultMore on Tick in Pennsylvaniafor detailed identification guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Are ticks deadly? Tick bites themselves are not deadly, but Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections require prompt medical treatment to avoid serious complications. Early detection and antibiotic therapy have excellent outcomes. How common are tick bites in Pennsylvania? Tick bites are very common, particularly in forested and grassy areas during spring and summer. Anyone spending time outdoors during warm months should assume they may encounter ticks. What attracts ticks to a house? Ticks are brought indoors on clothing, pets, and shoes after outdoor exposure. They do not actively seek homes and cannot survive long indoors. What should I do if I see one? Remove any tick you find using tweezers, pulling straight out, then check yourself thoroughly for additional ticks. If you develop symptoms within two weeks, contact a doctor and mention the tick exposure. See ourPennsylvania wildlife guidefor more seasonal outdoor safety tips.
Plan your tick sighting in Pennsylvania
3,201 verified tick records have been logged in Pennsylvania, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Pennsylvania
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chesapeake Bay · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Friendship Hill National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are they in Pennsylvania?+
Yes, ticks are abundant throughout Pennsylvania, especially in areas with forests and fields. The blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick, is widespread across the entire state and thrives in the mixed forests of the Appalachian plateau and the eastern deciduous woodlands. American dog ticks are equally established and common in grassy and brushy habitats statewide. The Lone star tick has expanded northward into Pennsylvania's southern and central regions and is becoming increasingly common. You will find these ticks in state parks, nature preserves, hiking trails, and private woodlands virtually everywhere in Pennsylvania. Urban and suburban areas with trees and vegetation also support tick populations. Counties across the northern tier, the central ridge provinces, and the southeastern regions all report significant tick activity. Learn more aboutTick in Pennsylvaniato understand your local risk and prepare for outdoor adventures.
How dangerous is it?+
Tick bites in Pennsylvania carry a genuine risk of Lyme disease transmission, making prompt detection and removal important. Lyme disease, caused by bacteria carried by blacklegged ticks, occurs regularly in Pennsylvania, particularly in forested regions. Symptoms include a circular rash, fever, joint pain, and fatigue appearing days to weeks after infection. If treated early with antibiotics, Lyme disease has an excellent prognosis. Without treatment, the infection can cause long-term joint and neurological complications. American dog ticks and Lone star ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, though this is much less common in Pennsylvania than in western states. The good news is that tick-borne diseases are treatable when caught early, and most people who remove ticks promptly and seek medical care for symptoms recover fully. Deaths from tick-borne illness are very rare in healthy adults with access to proper medical treatment.
More wildlife in Pennsylvania