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.

Do Ticks and Mosquitoes Survive Winter?

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.

Mosquitoes Survive Winter Too

Different mosquito species overwinter as:

Eggs in soil or containers
Larvae in cold, stagnant water
Adults hiding under decks, in gutters, sheds, or garages

Once temperatures warm, these overwintering mosquitoes kickstart spring populations, unless you disrupt their habitat now.

Winter Tick And Mosquito Prevention Checklist For Your Backyard

Below are the most effective winter strategies to reduce pest populations before spring.

1. Remove Leaf Litter and Brush: The Foundation of Winter Tick Prevention

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.

Winter To-Do List:

Rake leaves from wooded edges, mulch beds, and stone walls
Clear debris around fences, patios, and playsets
Thin overgrown shrubs and brush where rodents thrive
Keep compost contained and away from high-traffic areas

Doing this now reduces overwintering ticks and disrupts their host pathways.

2. Create a Tick-Safe Zone Where Your Family Spends Time

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:

Do kids play by the woods? Consider shifting their play zone or adding a border.
Does your dog roam brushy areas? Plan a fenced run or regularly cleared path.
Are you adding gardens or fire pits in spring? Choose locations away from tick habitat.

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.

Winter Backyard Projects:

Add a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between woods and lawn
Move patios, playsets, gardens, or fire pits away from brush lines
Trim low branches to increase sun exposure. Ticks hate dry, sunny areas
Relocate bird feeders so spilled seed doesn’t attract mice

These improvements are easier to plan or start when plants are dormant and lines of sight are clearer.

3. Reduce Wildlife Traffic Near the Home (Ticks Hitch a Ride In)

Check out our blog here about what animals carry ticks & spread them to others.

Ticks arrive on:

Deer
Mice and chipmunks
Birds
Pets

Making your yard less wildlife-friendly is an important winter tick prevention strategy.

Things to Do:

Store firewood raised off the ground and away from the house
Seal small foundation gaps where rodents nest
Choose deer-resistant spring plants
Use small barriers or fences to keep deer out of high-use areas

fence to protect flowers from deer feeding

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:

A deer passing through your garden can drop adult ticks into shrubs.
A mouse nesting under your deck can deposit larvae or nymphs.
Birds eating from a feeder can introduce ticks underneath it.

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.

4. Eliminate Standing Water: The Most Effective Winter Mosquito Prevention Step

Removing standing water is the #1 way to prevent mosquitoes. Even just a bottle cap amount of water can produce hundreds of spring mosquitoes.

Winter Water Inspection List:

Buckets, toys, plant saucers
Clogged gutters
Wheelbarrows, tarps, or tires
Low spots that collect snowmelt
Unused fire pits, rain barrels, open trash cans
Water pooling under decks or sheds

Prevention Tips:

Store items upside down or indoors
Clean gutters and repair downspouts
Fill low areas with soil or gravel
Tighten tarps so they don’t sag

boat tarp winter tick and mosquito prevention

gutter cleaning winter tick and mosquito prevention

Small winter actions prevent mosquito larvae from hatching in spring.

5. Manage Water Features Wisely

Ponds, birdbaths, fountains, and decorative elements can become mosquito nurseries by April.

How to Reduce Mosquito Habitat:

Empty or store birdbaths
Flush standing water frequently once temps rise
Use pond aerators or water movement systems
Plan ahead to use BTI Mosquito Dunks which are safe for birds, pets & people

Taking these steps now sets you up for stronger mosquito prevention when spring hits.

6. Consider Professional or Natural Tick Prevention Options Early

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:

Identify shaded, brushy, or high-risk areas
Evaluate wildlife pathways
Schedule early-spring tick treatments
Choose All-Natural Tick and Mosquito Control, like ohDEER’s chemical-free sprays

Starting early ensures protection before the first ticks wake up.