Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is not something you only have to worry about during the summer months. While it is true that ticks are most active during warmer weather, there are species of ticks that can and do survive colder temperatures. What’s more, the “tick season” is evolving and expanding as global temperatures rise.
Can you get Lyme disease in the winter?
Yes, you can get Lyme disease in the winter. Unfortunately, you can also get one of the many other tick-borne diseases endemic to North America outside of typical “summer months.” Below, learn more about what makes Lyme and other tick-borne diseases a risk all year-round.
1. Active Ticks in Cold Weather.
The Eastern and Western blacklegged tick, AKA deer tick – the tick that causes Lyme disease – can survive temperatures just above freezing when snow is not present. This makes it possible to find active adult female ticks in cold weather if they do not find a sufficient meal by the end of fall. Thus, it is absolutely possible to be bitten and infected by a tick during the winter.
Those on the west coast should be particularly cautious, as snow is not typical during west coast winters. California, in particular, is known for moderate year-round temperatures.
Of course, some mitigating factors present in the winter are not present in the summer. So, while ticks can survive in the cold, people are less likely to come into contact with them. For one, outdoor activity in the winter typically requires warm clothing, so parts of the body where ticks most like to bite (such as the underarms, behind the knees, and near the groin) are typically covered up. Plus, many people simply spend less time outdoors during the winter because of the cold.
However, with outdoor activity still a safer option than indoor gatherings because of COVID-19, those enjoying nature this winter should still take precautions to protect themselves against tick-borne disease.
2. The Gulf Coast and Lone Star tick are active in more temperate climates.
Just as the temperate climate of the west coast makes winter riskier for tick-borne disease than some other regions, the warmer winter temperatures of the southeast and southwest mean that tick-borne disease is a threat throughout the year. In addition to Lyme, the Gulf Coast tick can spread a form of spotted fever, while the Lone Star tick has a range of dangerous diseases, including tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and more.
3. Tick season is expanding because of climate change.
As covered in more detail in a previous Tick Talk article Lyme Disease and Climate Change: What You Need to Know, climate change significantly affects tick season. Ticks and the mammalian hosts they depend on for food are most active during warmer weather. This makes sense, as warm weather is easier to survive than harsh winter temperatures.
As average winter temperatures get warmer because of climate change, expect to see longer tick seasons – i.e., more extended periods of activity for ticks that cause Lyme and other diseases.
4. Different tick-borne diseases have different seasons.
As covered above, Lyme disease is typically associated with the summer months, though the blacklegged tick can be active and spread disease from mid-March to November and into the winter. However, this is only one of many possible diseases you can get from a tick.
For example, more and more attention is being paid to Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF). Unlike Lyme, TBRF is spread mostly by soft ticks. These ticks have much longer lifespans than hard ticks like the blacklegged tick – up to 10 years in some cases. They also tend to find hosts by entering their homes – e.g., animal burrows or rodent-infested cabins – rather than “questing” like hard ticks. Finally, one type of TBRF – called B. miyamotoi disease by the CDC – is spread by the same blacklegged ticks that spread Lyme, meaning you can catch TBRF in the winter just like you can catch Lyme in the winter.
When in doubt, get tested
If you think you’ve come into contact with ticks in cold weather or if you’ve been experiencing symptoms of a possible tick-borne disease, don’t write it off simply because it’s winter. Lyme and other tick-borne diseases can be transmitted anywhere, any time of year. Therefore, it’s crucial that you document your symptoms and get tested for tick-borne diseases, then discuss your results with a trusted doctor to prevent any delays in diagnosis.
