Tick Season is Starting Earlier in Maryland

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.

Levi Brody

Levi Brody is the President of Brody Brothers Pest Control and an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) with over 25 years of experience in the pest management industry. He has been leading the company since 2007, blending modern pest control techniques with the company's traditional values. Levi is passionate about providing safe and effective pest control solutions to Maryland homeowners and is committed to building long-term relationships with his customers.