Tick Season in Germany 2026 — When Is the Risk Highest?
In short: According to the authorities, ticks become active from about 4 to 7 °C; their main season is spring and autumn. Because mild winters are becoming more common, you can now pick up a tick all year round — so a check after a walk in the woods is worth it in December, too.
When ticks become active
Ticks follow the temperature, not the calendar. How warm it has to be is given differently by the authorities, and we don't smooth that over:
- Germany's Federal Environment Agency gives at least 4 °C for the castor bean tick, the most common species.
- The Hessian State Office for Health and Care gives about 5 to 7 degrees.
For everyday life the difference is small: even on a mild winter day or in early spring, a tick may be waiting in the grass. If you only think of ticks "from May", you start looking too late.
The year at a glance
- Spring: the first main season starts with the first mild weeks. According to the Hessian State Office, many nymphs are about then — the small ticks, one to two millimetres across, that are easiest to miss. How small they are is shown in "What do ticks look like?".
- Summer: in heat and drought the number of ticks drops. The Robert Koch Institute writes that drier weather reduces their density. In shady woodland, along streams and in damp undergrowth they stay active.
- Autumn: the second main season, once it turns cooler and damper again.
- Winter: ticks rest in frost and become active again on mild days. A tick-free winter is no longer a reliable rule.
That matches the Federal Environment Agency, which describes the castor bean tick as present all year, mainly in spring and autumn.
Why the season is getting longer
The Federal Environment Agency writes that the castor bean tick is extending its period of activity as the climate changes. The Hessian State Office for Health gives one reason: without long periods of hard frost, hardly any ticks die off, so many nymphs are found in early spring. The Robert Koch Institute adds a second factor that is about us: in warmer weather people spend more time in nature and gardens — and so more time where ticks are waiting.
Warmer does not automatically mean "more ticks everywhere": drier weather reduces their density, according to the RKI. What reliably changes is how long you need to reckon with ticks.
What this means for your tick check
- Spring to autumn: after every time outdoors — the routines for children, for dogs and cats and for the self-check.
- In winter: after walks on mild days, especially in woods and at meadow edges, and above all with a dog that roams through undergrowth.
- All year: prevent ticks, not just search for them — at home with "Preventing Ticks in Your Garden", and on the go with clothing and repellent, see "Tick repellent for people".
The Robert Koch Institute redefines Germany's TBE risk areas every year, and the districts on the list change. If in doubt, check the current RKI map or ask your doctor. How case numbers are developing is covered in "TBE and Lyme disease case numbers in Germany".
Whatever the season: TickSpot is always at hand — free in your browser, installable for offline use.
Start the tick checkFrequently asked questions
At what temperature do ticks become active?
Official figures range from 4 to 7 °C. Germany's Federal Environment Agency gives at least 4 °C for the castor bean tick, the Hessian State Office for Health and Care about 5 to 7 degrees. In practice: you can pick up a tick even on a mild winter day or in early spring.
When is tick season in Germany?
The main activity is in spring and autumn, as the Federal Environment Agency and the Hessian State Office for Health agree. Because mild winters are becoming more common, ticks can now be met all year round.
Are there ticks in winter?
Yes. They rest in frost and become active again on mild days. According to the Hessian State Office for Health, hardly any ticks die off without long periods of hard frost, so many nymphs are about in early spring.
Why are there sometimes fewer ticks in high summer?
Because ticks need moisture. According to the Robert Koch Institute, drier weather reduces tick density; in heat and drought they retreat to shady, damper places. In woodland and along streams the risk remains in summer, too.
Sources
- German Federal Environment Agency (UBA): Beware of hard ticks (active from at least 4 °C, longer season with climate change; 3 Aug 2021, in German)
- German Federal Environment Agency (UBA): Hard ticks (all year, mainly spring and autumn; 4 Sep 2026, in German)
- Hessian State Office for Health and Care: Ticks (active from about 5 to 7 degrees, main activity spring and autumn, nymphs after mild winters — in German)
- Robert Koch Institute: Tick FAQ (climate and tick density, human behaviour, nymph size — in German)
Note: This article offers general seasonal guidance and does not replace current official risk-area information or medical advice.