Ticks Don’t Stop in the Fall: How to Protect Your Dog on Fall Hikes & Hunting Trips
Cooler mornings, changing leaves, open trails and hunting season make fall one of the best times of year to get outside with your dog. But while mosquitoes and other summer pests may begin to fade, ticks are an outdoor threat that shouldn’t be crossed off your list just yet.
It’s easy to associate ticks with hot summer weather, but tick season doesn’t simply end when fall begins. Depending on the species and local conditions, ticks can remain active well into the cooler months. In fact, blacklegged ticks (also commonly called deer ticks) can be particularly important to watch for during fall.
For dogs joining you on hikes, camping weekends, hunting trips or even walks through wooded areas, a little extra prevention can make your fall adventures much more enjoyable.
Why Ticks Are Still a Fall Problem
Ticks thrive in the exact kinds of places we tend to explore during fall: wooded trails, tall grasses, brush, leaf litter and areas frequently traveled by wildlife. While overall tick activity varies by species, location and weather, cooler temperatures do not necessarily eliminate the risk. The CDC notes that exposure to ticks can happen throughout the year, while adult blacklegged ticks may continue searching for hosts during the cooler months and even on winter days when temperatures rise above freezing. That means a crisp 50-degree afternoon in October or November isn't automatically a tick-free day.
Dogs can be especially exposed because they're naturally curious. While we're walking down the middle of a trail, they're often sniffing through tall grass, investigating brush, running through leaves and exploring the edge of the woods—all places where ticks may be waiting for a host.
Hiking and Hunting Dogs May Have Even More Exposure
A quick walk around the neighborhood is one thing. Spending several hours in fields, forests and wildlife habitat is another. Hunting dogs, trail dogs and dogs that regularly accompany their owners outdoors may travel through significantly more tick habitat during a single outing. Tall grasses, dense vegetation and wooded edges provide plenty of opportunities for ticks to come into contact with your dog's coat.
And there's another reason to pay attention: dogs can carry ticks back with them. The CDC recommends checking pets that spend time outdoors every day because ticks may attach to the dog or hitch a ride indoors, potentially exposing other pets and people as well.
Make a Tick Check Part of Your Post-Hike Routine
One of the simplest habits you can build this fall is a quick tick check after outdoor adventures. When you get home from a hike, hunt or camping trip, run your hands slowly through your dog's coat and pay extra attention to places ticks like to hide. The CDC specifically recommends checking areas around the ears and eyelids, underneath the collar, under the front legs, between the toes, between the back legs and around the tail. For long-haired or dark-coated dogs, take your time. Small ticks can disappear surprisingly easily beneath thick fur. If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly using an appropriate tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. If your dog develops unusual symptoms following a suspected tick bite, contact your veterinarian.
Prevention shouldn't begin when you get home. It should start before paws ever hit the trail. That's where our Lakota Naturals Tick Repel Drops for Dogs fit into a fall outdoor routine.
Our Tick Repel Drops use rose geranium, giving dog owners a simple botanical option for helping repel ticks before outdoor activities. Geranium essential oils have been studied for their natural tick-repellent properties; laboratory research has found repellent activity from several geranium essential oils against lone star tick nymphs. Rather than waiting until you find a tick crawling through your dog's coat, the goal is to add another layer of defense before entering the areas where ticks are most likely to be found. Simply use the drops according to label directions as part of your dog's regular outdoor routine.
Don't Retire Your Tick Routine When Summer Ends
One of the biggest mistakes pet owners can make is assuming that the first cool morning means pest protection can be packed away until spring. Veterinary parasite experts actually recommend maintaining tick protection throughout the year because different tick species are active during different seasons. Blacklegged ticks are especially noteworthy because adults are active during the cooler months. So as you start pulling out the hiking boots, hunting gear and fall jackets, keep your dog's tick routine close by too.
A good fall routine can be simple:
- Use an appropriate tick-prevention strategy before outdoor adventures.
- Avoid unnecessarily walking through dense brush and tall grass.
- Check your dog thoroughly after hikes, hunts and time in wooded areas.
- Keep your Tick Repel Drops with your leash, hiking pack or hunting gear so they're easy to remember.
More Trails. Fewer Unwanted Hitchhikers.
Fall should be about cool air, colorful trails and enjoying more time outside, not bringing ticks home with you. Whether your dog is running through the woods on a hunting trip, joining you for a weekend hike or simply exploring the backyard, don't assume cooler weather means ticks are gone. Stay aware, check often and make tick protection part of the adventure.