Why This Story Starts in Spring, Not Summer
Ticks don’t wait for summer heat. In Maryland, activity often increases in March and April, well before most homeowners think about prevention. By the time outdoor routines ramp up in May, ticks have already been active for weeks.
That timing matters more than ever. Alongside rising Lyme disease cases, public health reporting is now tracking emerging tick-borne illnesses, including Babesiosis. These newer risks don’t always look or behave like Lyme, making early prevention increasingly important.
What’s Changing in Maryland
Warmer winters and longer transitional seasons are allowing ticks to survive and spread more easily. As a result:
- Tick exposure is starting earlier each year
- New diseases are appearing alongside familiar ones
- Risk is increasing for people, pets, and anyone spending time outdoors
- Babesiosis, once uncommon in Maryland, is now being reported more frequently. It can cause serious illness in some individuals and does not always come with obvious early symptoms.
How Exposure Starts at Home
Ticks thrive in everyday yard environments, especially:
Lawn edges near woods, fencing, or shrubs
Shaded areas with leaf litter or mulch
Landscaped beds and ornamental plantings
Areas pets and wildlife frequent
Because ticks are small and quiet, exposure often happens without notice.
Why Prevention Is a Professional Job
Tick management is not just about reacting to bites. It’s about reducing risk before peak season begins. Effective prevention requires understanding seasonal timing, tick behavior, and how treatments interact with pets, pollinators, and the surrounding ecosystem.
Professional tick services provide:
Property-wide risk reduction
Pet-safe, environmentally responsible applications
Early-season protection before populations surge
Ongoing monitoring as conditions change
Start Before Awareness Month
May is Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Month, but by then, tick activity is already well underway. March and April are when prevention makes the biggest impact.
Brody Brothers professionals help Maryland homeowners reduce tick pressure early, protecting families, pets, and outdoor spaces before summer begins.