Tick Season in Raleigh: How to Protect Your Dog This Spring

November 1, 2026

Spring in Raleigh is pretty great. The dogwoods are blooming, the greenways fill up, and every pup in the Triangle wants a longer sniff walk. Unfortunately, ticks love spring too.

The good news: a few simple habits go a long way. Here's what we've learned from walking dogs all over Raleigh, plus what the experts at NC State and the American Kennel Club recommend.

Which ticks live around the Triangle?

North Carolina has several medically important tick species. According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services' 2025 tickborne disease report, the ones to know are:

• Lone star tick. The most commonly collected tick in the state's 2025 surveillance. All life stages are active from late spring through summer, and it's linked to ehrlichiosis.
• American dog tick. Also active from late spring through summer. It can transmit the bacteria behind spotted fever illnesses, mainly Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• Blacklegged (deer) tick. Found most often in western NC but present in other parts of the state too. Adults are most active in fall and spring, and nymphs through the summer. This is the tick associated with Lyme disease.
• Longhorned tick. An invasive species that now shows up regularly in the state's tick surveillance.

Translation for Raleigh pet parents: between blacklegged adults in fall and spring and the other species from late spring through summer, there isn't much of the year when ticks are truly off duty, and spring is when activity really ramps up.

Where dogs pick up ticks

Ticks don't jump or fly. They wait on grass and brush and grab on as an animal brushes past. AKC notes that ticks thrive in woods, lawns and forests, and even in urban areas.

Around here that can mean:

• Overgrown edges along greenway trails and creeks
• Tall grass at the back of a yard or a vacant lot
• Leaf litter and brush at the edge of a park

You don't have to skip your favorite spots. Try to stay toward the middle of the path, and keep sniff breaks to mowed grass when you can. Looking for good places to walk? Our guide to Raleigh dog parks is a great starting point.

Do a quick tick check after every walk

AKC recommends checking your dog for ticks daily, and more often if your dog spends a lot of time outside. A good check takes about two minutes:

1. Run your fingers slowly through your dog's coat, feeling for small bumps.
2. Look closely at the warm, tucked-away spots: around and inside the ears, the head and neck, under the collar, the armpits, between the toes, and around the tail.
3. Part the fur on anything that feels like a bump so you can actually see it.

Make it part of the after-walk routine, along with a treat. Most dogs learn to enjoy the extra attention.

How to remove a tick the right way

Found one? Don't panic, and don't grab it with your fingers. The AKC's step-by-step guide says:

1. Spread your dog's fur so you can see the tick clearly.
2. Use fine-point tweezers (or a tick removal hook) and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Pull straight up in a slow, steady motion. Don't twist or jerk.
4. Wash your hands, clean the bite spot with rubbing alcohol, and disinfect your tool.

AKC explains why speed matters: disease transmission can happen as quickly as three to six hours after a bite. The sooner a tick comes off, the better.

If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, ask your vet to show you once. After that you'll be ready for next time.

Prevention: talk to your vet

The most effective protection is a tick preventive your veterinarian recommends for your dog. There are topical, oral and collar options, and the right one depends on your dog's age, health and lifestyle. AKC also suggests:

• Keep preventives on schedule. A missed dose is a gap in protection.
• Keep your yard mowed and cut back tall weeds.
• Ask your vet about yearly testing for tick-borne diseases, even if your dog seems perfectly healthy.

Fun local fact: NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine runs a Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory right here in Raleigh that focuses on diseases carried by ticks, fleas and other bugs. If your vet ever sends out a tick-borne disease test, it may end up somewhere close to home.

When to call the vet

Call your veterinarian if your dog seems "off" in the days or weeks after a tick bite: less energy, not interested in food, or anything else that isn't normal for your pup. Tick-borne illnesses can take a while to show up, so mention any recent tick bites at your next visit too.

Tick-season walks with Hooman on Demand

Our walks are always on leash, one household at a time. That makes it easier to keep pups on the path and out of the brush. Every visit ends with a photo check-in and a report card in the Hooman on Demand app.

You can read more about how our dog walking service works, or check out the spring hazards your dog should avoid for more seasonal tips.

Frequently asked questions

When is tick season in Raleigh?

Spring and summer are the peak, but the state's 2025 report notes that adult blacklegged ticks are most active in fall and spring. It's smart to keep up quick tick checks all year and ask your vet whether year-round prevention makes sense for your dog.

Where do ticks usually hide on dogs?

Look around and inside the ears, on the head and neck, under the collar, in the armpits, between the toes and around the tail. These warm, tucked-away spots are favorites.

Should I twist a tick to get it out?

No. AKC recommends fine-point tweezers, gripping close to the skin and pulling straight up with slow, steady pressure. Twisting or jerking can leave mouthparts behind.

Does my dog need tick prevention if we mostly walk on sidewalks?

Ticks can live in lawns and even urban areas, so most dogs benefit from a preventive. Your veterinarian can recommend the right product for your dog's lifestyle.

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Questions first? Visit our FAQs, call or text (984) 212-2524, or email hoomanondemand@gmail.com.

Sources

• NCDHHS: North Carolina Tickborne Disease Annual Report 2025 (PDF)
• American Kennel Club: Ticks on Dogs
• American Kennel Club: How to Remove a Tick From Your Dog
• NC State CVM: Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Sources were checked in October 2026. Local rules, hours and events can change, so please check the linked sources for updates.

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