Ticks in Alaska

Alaska tick questions

Are there ticks in Alaska?

Yes, but they are mostly recent arrivals. The American dog tick and brown dog tick are now establishing in Alaska's populated areas like Anchorage and Fairbanks, alongside native ticks that rarely bite people. The blacklegged tick that spreads Lyme is not established here, and testing has so far found no disease-causing pathogens in Alaska's ticks, so local risk stays very low.

What types of ticks live in Alaska?

Alaska has native ticks (found mostly on squirrels, hares, and birds, and rarely biting people) plus two non-native ticks now establishing in populated areas: the American dog tick and the brown dog tick. The blacklegged (Lyme) tick, lone star tick, and the Western ticks are not established here.

When does tick season start and end in Alaska?

Tick activity in Alaska is highest in summer, when the establishing American dog and brown dog ticks are most active and people and pets are outdoors most. Because these ticks are still spreading and no local pathogens have been found in them, the disease risk stays very low year-round.

When is flea and tick season?

With ticks now establishing in Alaska's populated areas, year-round flea and tick prevention for pets is worth keeping up, and check any dog that has traveled out of state. Tick activity peaks in summer, but the brown dog tick can persist around homes in any season.

Which tick carries Lyme disease in Alaska?

No tick established in Alaska is known to carry Lyme. The blacklegged tick that spreads Lyme is not established here, and testing has found no Lyme or other pathogens in Alaska's ticks so far. Any Lyme risk is travel-associated, from a bite picked up out of state.