The CDC puts U.S. tick activity at roughly April through September — and the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), one of the most common ticks in North America, falls right inside that window. It's already past its true peak, which CDC's own surveillance data puts in spring and early summer, but "past peak" doesn't mean gone. There's still real exposure risk through the end of the month, especially anywhere you're spending time in tall grass, brush, or along wooded trail edges — exactly the habitat this tick prefers while it waits for a host.
Old Map, Same Threat
The map above reflects the CDC's county-level surveillance data for the American dog tick, current through 2025. That's worth understanding rather than dismissing: CDC's tick surveillance isn't a yearly reset. A county is marked "established" once six or more American dog ticks are collected there within a 12-month period, and once that status is recorded, it carries forward into future years by CDC's own methodology. In plain terms — if your county shows up shaded on this map, the tick has a documented foothold there, and there's no reason to assume that changed just because the calendar did. Populations don't pack up and leave between seasons.
Why It's Worth Taking Seriously
The American dog tick is a confirmed vector for two diseases that are uncommon, but not ones to shrug off:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Per the CDC, RMSF typically starts with fever and headache, with a rash often following — but not always right away. That timing gap matters: CDC notes the rash frequently doesn't show up until a few days after the fever starts, so waiting to see a rash before taking symptoms seriously can delay treatment. RMSF responds well to the antibiotic doxycycline, but early treatment is what keeps it from becoming a serious illness.
- Tularemia. Caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, tularemia can spread through a tick bite (among other routes) and typically shows up within about a week of exposure — fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and sometimes a skin ulcer at the bite site or swollen lymph nodes nearby, according to the CDC. Like RMSF, it's treatable with antibiotics when caught early.
Neither disease is something most people will encounter. But both are reasons a tick bite deserves attention rather than a shrug — particularly if you or your dog spend a lot of time outdoors this time of year.
What Actually Helps
CDC's prevention guidance really comes down to two windows: before you head out, and after you get back.
Before you go outside: Treat clothing and gear with a permethrin product like Summit® Green Armor Insect Repellent. It stays protective through several washes. For exposed skin, use an EPA-registered repellent — look for DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on the label.
After you come inside: Do a full-body check. CDC calls out the spots people tend to miss: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in the hair, between the legs, and around the waist. Showering within two hours of coming in helps too — it can wash off ticks that haven't attached yet, and it's a natural moment to check.
If you do find one attached, the priority is to remove it quickly and correctly. That's exactly the gap Summit® Tick•Take™ is built to close — it removes ticks of any size at skin level, no dropping the tick and no touching it with your fingers. Keep one in your pack, your car, or on your keychain, so it's on hand the moment you actually need it.
Sourced from CDC.gov: Preventing Tick Bites, American Dog Tick Surveillance, About Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and About Tularemia / How Tularemia Spreads.
