Tick Season Isn't Over: Why Fall Is the Peak for Lyme Disease Risk Around Orillia & Lake Simcoe

Posted on 2026-09-17

Most people pack away the bug spray after Labour Day and forget about ticks. That's a mistake! The tick that spreads Lyme disease is the blacklegged tick, and it's most active when the weather cools in fall. That's when a lot of local homeowners get bitten without knowing the risk is still around.

Are ticks still active in the Fall?

Yes. Fall is actually peak season for adult blacklegged ticks, the ones that carry Lyme disease. They stay active on any day above ~4°C and keep hunting for a host until the ground completely freezes, often into November. Cool, damp weather suits them better than the summer heat, so they're at their busiest right when your guard is down.

Why is fall so risky for Lyme disease around Orillia and Lake Simcoe?

Because the ticks are already here, and fall is when we're all outside stirring them up! Blacklegged ticks have been found and confirmed across Simcoe County, and the local health unit has warned about the Lyme disease risk that comes with them. Then you add the usual fall to-do list, raking leaves, one last hike on the trails, closing up the cottage, the dog nosing through tall grass, and you've basically built the perfect setup for a bite.

Here's the part most people miss: ticks don't wait out in the open on your mowed lawn. They sit right at the edge where the grass meets the trees, the fence line, or the leaf pile. Waterfront and wooded properties around Lake Simcoe, and the shaded trails near Orillia, give them exactly the damp, leaf-littered cover they like. That's also why a fall yard treatment is a great idea. It's worth having a professional pest control in Orillia come treat your property edges where ticks actually gather.

How do you keep ticks off you and your pets this Fall?

The best defence is simple: cover up, then check! Wear long sleeves and tuck your pant legs into your socks for trail walks or yard cleanup, use a repellent, and do a full tick check on yourself, the kids, and the dog as soon as you head back inside. Ticks often crawl around for a while before they bite, so a quick check usually catches them before they've latched on.

Pay attention to the warm, hidden spots, like your hairline, behind the ears and knees, and around the waist. On dogs, check the ears, toes, and under the collar. It's also worth asking your vet about a tick preventative for pets, since they walk right through the tall grass ticks are waiting in. If you find one already attached, timing is key, so don't hesitate and get it removed right away. If you're not sure how to do it safely, consult a healthcare professional, and keep an eye on the area afterward for any signs of a reaction.

What draws ticks into your yard in the first place?

Ticks don't just appear out of nowhere, they hitch a ride in on animals. Mice, chipmunks, and deer are the main carriers, and they drop ticks wherever they wander through your property. That's why yards that back onto woods, fields, or water usually have the most. The more wildlife moving through, the more ticks get left behind.

This is where a little pest control pays off twice. Since mice are one of the biggest tick carriers right around your foundation, focusing on keeping mice out this fall cuts the problem off at the source. For bigger visitors like raccoons, skunks, and deer, professional wildlife removal in Simcoe County helps thin out the traffic through your yard. From there, clean up the spots ticks love: rake up leaf litter, keep the grass short, move woodpiles away from the house, and clear a little border where your lawn meets the trees.

When should you call a professional for tick control?

If your property backs onto woods, water, or an open field, or you're already finding ticks on the family or the dog, that's your cue to bring in a pro. Professional tick control targets the shaded, grassy edges where they gather and knocks the population back before the fall peak really takes off. Store-bought sprays rarely reach those spots, and they don't hold up for long.

At Mr. Exterminator, we put the treatment where ticks actually live on your property, not just out on the open lawn, so you can rake, hike, and let the dog out without second-guessing it. If ticks are showing up around your Orillia or Lake Simcoe home this fall, give us a call at 705-888-0029 and we'll take a look before the season hits its peak!