Ticks in Maine
A complete guide to Maine tick species, life cycles, disease risks, removal, and protection. Built from 40 years of hands-on experience and the latest data from the University of Maine Tick Lab and Maine CDC.
Knowledge is the first line of defense
Most people know the deer tick can infect people and animals with Lyme disease. So naturally, when people think of the disease, they think of deer and deer ticks. Deer do serve as hosts to the deer tick, but they are passive hosts.
The most important players in the spread of Lyme disease are the white-footed mouse and the chipmunk. These rodents primarily harbor the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Ticks pick up the bacteria when they feed on the blood of infected animals.
During the nymph stage, ticks may also feed on humans and pets. At this point they are light in color and no bigger than pinheads. They're extremely hard to see and can quickly go undetected.
The numbers keep climbing
Maine has some of the highest rates of tick-borne disease in the United States. These are reported cases from the most recent full year of Maine CDC data.
In 2024, 41.5% of deer ticks submitted to the Maine Tick Lab carried Lyme disease. Nearly half.
A two-year cycle, four feeding windows
Understanding the cycle is critical to timing protection correctly. The stage you meet depends entirely on the month.
Larval stage
Eggs laid the previous summer hatch into tiny larvae (around 0.5 mm) beginning in late spring. Through summer and early fall, larvae feed on their first host, typically small mammals like mice and chipmunks. This is when they first pick up disease-causing bacteria. As temperatures drop, they molt into the nymph stage and overwinter under leaf litter.
Nymph, adult, engorged female
In the second spring, nymphs (around 1 mm) become active and seek a second blood meal. This is the most dangerous stage for people. Nymphs are poppy-seed sized, easily missed, and responsible for the majority of Lyme disease transmission. By mid-to-late summer, surviving nymphs molt into adults. Adult females then feed a third time, often on deer, before laying eggs that start the cycle over.
Peak feeding activity windows in Maine
Larva, adult, and engorged female sizes compared. Adult deer ticks can also be active on warm winter days when temperatures rise above 40°F.
Four species you should really know
Maine hosts about 15 tick species. The ones below are the species homeowners are most likely to encounter.
Deer tick (blacklegged)
Sesame-seed sized. The most concerning species in Maine. Established in every county except parts of northern Aroostook.
American dog tick
Larger, brown with distinctive white markings. Not a Lyme threat but can transmit other serious diseases.
Lone Star tick (range-expanding)
Female has a distinct white dot on her back. Moving northward. Worth knowing as climate changes push populations into Maine.
Asian Longhorned tick (newest arrival)
The newest tick species in the Northeast, including Maine. A single female can lay thousands of eggs without mating, so populations build fast. Disease impact in the US is still being studied.
How to remove a tick the right way
Fast, safe removal reduces disease transmission risk. Do it right, and save the tick for later identification.
Hover (or tap) to see proper removal.
All you need is a pair of pointy tweezers or a tick spoon and a good eye.
Stop by our office at 64 Stevens Road in Brewer, or request a free on-site analysis, and we'll give you a free Green Thumb tick spoon.
Get a free tick spoon — on us
Schedule a free on-site property analysis and we'll bring you one of our Green Thumb tick spoons at the visit. It's the same tool we recommend in the removal steps above — pointy, precise, and made for the job.
No pressure, no commitment. Whether you sign on with us or not, the spoon is yours to keep.
Get a Free On-Site AnalysisHow to protect yourself and your family
Simple habits, practiced consistently, stop the vast majority of tick bites.
Before you go outdoors
- Know where to expect ticks: grassy, brushy, wooded areas, and even your own yard
- Treat clothing and gear with an EPA-registered permethrin product (0.5%). It stays effective through several washings
- Use an EPA-registered repellent (DEET, picaridin, IR3535, OLE, PMD, or 2-undecanone)
- Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot
- Tuck pants into socks in brushy terrain
While you're outside
- Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter when possible
- Walk in the center of trails
- Keep dogs on leash and out of tall grass
After you come indoors
- Tumble-dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks on dry clothing
- Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride in and attach to a person later
- Shower within 2 hours. This has been shown to reduce Lyme disease risk
Where to check your body for ticks
- In and around the hair
- In and around the ears
- Under the arms
- Inside the belly button
- Around the waist (belt line)
- Between the legs
- Back of the knees
Three highly targeted visits. No over-treatment.
Our tick management program consists of three highly targeted visits built around tick biology, not a monthly calendar. We penetrate thick vegetation up to 4 to 5 feet off the ground, where ticks actually wait, and focus on shaded edges, stone walls, and woodland transitions. The goal is simple: manage the ticks already in your landscape and keep managing them so your family can enjoy the outdoors without significant concern.
Neither is the "right" answer for every property. We walk your property, look at your situation, and recommend what actually fits. That's it.
Tick questions Mainers ask us most
If you have a question we haven't covered, give us a call — we'll talk it through.
How do I safely remove a tick?
Use pointy tweezers or a tick spoon. Get right down on the skin, grab the tick as close to its head as possible, and pull straight up with slow, firm pressure. Don't twist, burn, or smother the tick — those methods can push more saliva into the wound and raise disease exposure. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol before and after, and save the tick in a zip-lock bag for identification or testing.
When are ticks most active in Maine?
Deer tick nymphs peak from April through July and cause the majority of Lyme disease transmission. Adult deer ticks have a second peak from July through October, and adults can also be active on warm winter days when temperatures rise above 40°F. In practice, tick exposure in Maine is a year-round consideration.
What is the most common tick in Maine?
The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis, also called the blacklegged tick) is the species of greatest concern. It is established in every Maine county except parts of northern Aroostook and carries Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus. In 2024, 41.5% of deer ticks submitted to the Maine Tick Lab carried Lyme disease.
Should I send a tick to the University of Maine Tick Lab?
Yes. If you remove a tick from yourself, a family member, or a pet, save it in a sealed zip-lock bag. The University of Maine Tick Lab will identify the species and test for disease at low or no cost. That information helps your doctor make better treatment decisions if symptoms develop.
Are tick management treatments safe around children, pets, and pollinators?
We select products with a favorable safety profile around people, pets, and pollinators when used as intended. Our organic option uses plant-derived essential oils and is EPA-recognized as a minimum-risk product. Our standard option is in the same product class your veterinarian uses in many flea and tick treatments for dogs. Cats are more sensitive to the standard option, so we often recommend the organic option for households with outdoor cats.
How effective is yard tick management?
Targeted property treatment significantly reduces tick pressure but does not eliminate it — ticks ride in on deer, mice, chipmunks, and birds. The most effective approach combines property treatment with personal habits: wearing protective clothing in brushy areas, treating gear with an EPA-registered permethrin product, doing daily tick checks, and showering within two hours of being outside.
Ready for a straight conversation about ticks?
2026 marks our 40th year of managing Maine landscapes. If you have a tick concern or just a question about what you saw in your yard, we're a phone call away.