Are There Ticks in Vermont?
Yes, ticks are very common throughout Vermont, particularly in wooded areas and forests. The blacklegged tick, which carries Lyme disease, is well established across the state. American dog ticks are also present. Tick encounters are frequent from spring through fall, making prevention and prompt removal essential for anyone spending time outdoors in Vermont.
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 路 Nova Patch CC BY-SA
American Dog Tick 路 Matthew Lindsey CC BY
Asian Longhorned Tick 路 Zachary Dankowicz CC BY
Verified species, source iNaturalist
2 types of ticks recorded in Vermont
2 tick species have a verified observation record in Vermont, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
Plus 4 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Yes, ticks are very common throughout Vermont, particularly in wooded areas and forests. The blacklegged tick, which carries Lyme disease, is well established across the state. American dog ticks are also present. Tick encounters are frequent from spring through fall, making prevention and prompt removal essential for anyone spending time outdoors in Vermont.
Are they in Vermont?
Yes, ticks are abundant throughout Vermont, established in every county and throughout the state's extensive forests and natural areas. The blacklegged tick is widespread and thrives in Vermont's mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, particularly in the Green Mountains and across the state. American dog ticks are equally common in grassy and brushy habitats. You will encounter these ticks in state parks, national forests, hiking trails, and private woodlands virtually everywhere in Vermont. Urban and suburban areas with trees and vegetation also support tick populations. Central Vermont mountains support particularly high tick populations. Northern Vermont, southern Vermont, and even the lower elevation regions all harbor significant numbers. The entire state is within the range of Lyme disease-carrying blacklegged ticks. Vermont's proximity to other northeastern states with high Lyme disease rates makes protection important for all residents. Learn more aboutTick in Vermontto understand your local risk and prepare for outdoor activities.
How dangerous is it?
Tick bites in Vermont 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 Vermont, with cases reported in nearly every county. 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, infection can progress to long-term joint and neurological complications. American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, though this is much less common in Vermont than Lyme disease. Other rare tick-borne illnesses can also occur. The good news is that diseases are treatable when caught early, and most people who remove ticks promptly and seek medical care recover fully. Tick-borne illness deaths are extremely 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 females are reddish-brown with a dark brown shield. Males are smaller and entirely dark brown. Nymphs, which are active in late spring and summer, are tiny, about the size of a poppy seed, making them very difficult to spot. American dog ticks are larger, tan to reddish-brown with white markings on the shield. All ticks have eight jointed legs and a flat body that swells noticeably when feeding. Ticks do not jump or fly but cling to vegetation from knee height to shoulder height, waiting to grab onto passing humans and animals. They crawl upward along your body seeking warm, moist skin folds, often settling in the armpits, groin, and behind the ears.Vermont wildlifeinformation helps you recognize many creatures you encounter 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 bare fingers to handle the tick. 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 Vermont 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 spot. 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 Vermont and when
Ticks are found in nearly every Vermont county in deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, grassy fields, shrubby areas, and parks. The Green Mountains, home to extensive forests, harbor particularly high tick populations. The Champlain Valley regions, the Northeast Kingdom, and western mountain areas all have abundant ticks. State game lands, national forest properties, and hiking trails have high tick populations. Suburban yards with trees and shrubs support ticks as well. Tick season in Vermont extends from March or April through October or 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 Vermontreflects seasonal patterns across many creatures.
Harmless lookalikes
Many small arthropods and insects encountered in Vermont 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 Vermont are harmless. The distinguishing feature of actual ticks is their embedding behavior and body structure. The body of a tick is distinctive, with the shield-like appearance, once you know what to look for. If uncertain, consultMore on Tick in Vermontfor 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 Vermont? 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 ourVermont wildlife guidefor more seasonal outdoor safety tips.
Frequently asked questions
Are they in Vermont?+
Yes, ticks are abundant throughout Vermont, established in every county and throughout the state's extensive forests and natural areas. The blacklegged tick is widespread and thrives in Vermont's mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, particularly in the Green Mountains and across the state. American dog ticks are equally common in grassy and brushy habitats. You will encounter these ticks in state parks, national forests, hiking trails, and private woodlands virtually everywhere in Vermont. Urban and suburban areas with trees and vegetation also support tick populations. Central Vermont mountains support particularly high tick populations. Northern Vermont, southern Vermont, and even the lower elevation regions all harbor significant numbers. The entire state is within the range of Lyme disease-carrying blacklegged ticks. Vermont's proximity to other northeastern states with high Lyme disease rates makes protection important for all residents. Learn more aboutTick in Vermontto understand your local risk and prepare for outdoor activities.
How dangerous is it?+
Tick bites in Vermont 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 Vermont, with cases reported in nearly every county. 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, infection can progress to long-term joint and neurological complications. American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, though this is much less common in Vermont than Lyme disease. Other rare tick-borne illnesses can also occur. The good news is that diseases are treatable when caught early, and most people who remove ticks promptly and seek medical care recover fully. Tick-borne illness deaths are extremely rare in healthy adults with access to proper medical treatment.
More wildlife in Vermont