🚩 Lyme Red Flag: “It’s Too Cold for Ticks”

When one of my patients developed Lyme disease symptoms in January, she was told, “It’s too cold for ticks — it can’t be Lyme.”

That statement is one of the most common and dangerous misconceptions in tick-borne illness. “It’s too cold for ticks” is one of the most dangerous Lyme myths—and it leads to missed winter diagnoses.

The truth is simple: it is never truly too cold for ticks.

Whenever temperatures rise above freezing, ticks can become active. Blacklegged (deer) ticks don’t die off in winter—they go dormant, then re-emerge as soon as conditions allow. In simple terms, ticks don’t disappear in winter—they wait for warmer moments.

Is It Really Too Cold for Ticks?

Ticks don’t follow calendars.

Research shows that deer ticks can remain active at temperatures as low as 35–40°F, surviving winter months beneath leaf litter, brush, and snow cover.

They are most active in fall and early spring, but during mild winters they may emerge in January or February. In southern regions, tick activity can continue year-round.

In simple terms:
Ticks don’t disappear in winter—they wait.

❗ Why the “Too Cold for Ticks” Myth Matters

Believing it’s too cold for ticks leads directly to delayed diagnosis and missed cases of Lyme disease.

Every winter, patients are told their symptoms can’t be Lyme because of the season—only to be diagnosed months later, when treatment is more complicated and symptoms have spread.

If you’ve had outdoor exposure—even routine activities like dog walking, yard work, wood cutting, or hiking—the season should never rule out Lyme disease.

This misconception reflects Lyme disease medical dismissal, where symptoms are minimized instead of fully investigated.

The Science Behind Winter Tick Survival

Ticks are remarkably resilient. Studies show:

• Nymph and adult deer ticks can survive weeks of subfreezing temperatures

• Leaf litter, snow cover, and moisture create insulation that prevents lethal cold exposure

• On sunny winter days above ~40°F, ticks resume “questing”—climbing vegetation to find a host

That’s why tick checks matter all year, not just in summer.

Key Takeaway

It is not too cold for ticks—even in February.

Ticks can be active anytime temperatures rise above freezing, and Lyme disease can begin with one unnoticed bite, even in winter.

If symptoms follow outdoor exposure, Lyme disease should remain on the diagnostic radar—regardless of the month.

⚠️ This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Have you been told it was the “wrong time of year” for Lyme disease?
Sharing these stories helps prevent missed diagnoses.

Resources

1. 1. 1. Where Ticks Live
      2. Surviving Winter
      3. Lyme blog – Ticks can survive a Northern winter. But can ticks survive a Southern summer?