Many homeowners hope winter solves their tick and mosquito problems.
It’s cold, everything slows down, surely pests freeze out, right?
Unfortunately, ticks and mosquitoes survive winter extremely well, and the steps you take now determine how many will be waiting for you when warm weather returns.
If you’ve ever asked: “What can I do in my backyard during winter to prevent ticks and mosquitoes in the spring?” you’re in the right place.
This guide provides actionable winter tick and mosquito prevention strategies, backed by the CDC, EPA, university research centers, and public health experts.
Yes… and winter is when prevention matters most. Ticks can easily make it through winter. Blacklegged (deer) ticks, which are notorious for spreading Lyme disease, survive by sheltering in leaf litter, soil, brush piles, wood edges, and stone walls. Whenever temperatures rise above ~32°F, they may become active again, looking for hosts.
Different mosquito species overwinter as:
Once temperatures warm, these overwintering mosquitoes kickstart spring populations, unless you disrupt their habitat now.
Below are the most effective winter strategies to reduce pest populations before spring.
Leaf litter is one of the biggest habitats for winter ticks. It insulates them from cold, preserves moisture, and shelters mice which are ticks preferred hosts.
Doing this now reduces overwintering ticks and disrupts their host pathways.
Think beyond your yard…consider pet and family habits too. Winter is also when you can evaluate how your family uses outdoor space and make adjustments:
Mosquito research emphasizes that prevention works best when yard maintenance is paired with behavioral changes, such as monitoring where water collects and being aware of shade-heavy zones that mosquitoes rest in.
These improvements are easier to plan or start when plants are dormant and lines of sight are clearer.
Check out our blog here about what animals carry ticks & spread them to others.
Ticks arrive on:
Making your yard less wildlife-friendly is an important winter tick prevention strategy.
These steps reduce tick “drop-off” zones before spring. A tick drop-off zone is: Any place where wildlife rests, feeds, or travels through your property and leaves ticks behind.
For example:
These locations become hotspots of new tick activity because once ticks drop off their host, they crawl into leaf litter, mulch beds, or shaded soil to wait for their next meal.
That’s why reducing wildlife attraction like spilled birdseed, unprotected garden beds, or sheltered brush, helps limit how many ticks are being delivered into the areas you and your pets use.
Removing standing water is the #1 way to prevent mosquitoes. Even just a bottle cap amount of water can produce hundreds of spring mosquitoes.
Small winter actions prevent mosquito larvae from hatching in spring.
Ponds, birdbaths, fountains, and decorative elements can become mosquito nurseries by April.
Taking these steps now sets you up for stronger mosquito prevention when spring hits.
Winter is the planning season for spring tick activity. Ticks can become active as early as February or March on mild days.
Now is the time to:
Starting early ensures protection before the first ticks wake up.
Ticks wake up during temporary winter warm spells.
Winter tick prevention isn’t just about backyard cleanup, it’s about outdoor awareness, too.
Even though you won’t see immediate results, you can do actions in winter that will help come spring:
The payoff arrives in April, May, and June with fewer bites, fewer pests, and safer time outdoors.
If you want expert support, the ohDEER team is here to help with:
Our chemical-free treatments keep your family, pets, and plants safe so you can enjoy more time outside!
