Maine Sees 2 Tick Species Surge as Lyme Cases Hit Record 4,257 in 2025

2 articles · Updated · Press Herald · Jun 11

Adult deer ticks and dog ticks are active across Maine at the same time, leaving residents spotting ticks in yards, on trails and even on porches and playground equipment.
University of Maine tick experts said the overlap makes the state feel inundated: dog ticks range widely in lawns and open fields, while deer ticks hide more in leaf litter and woods because they dry out easily.
4,257 Lyme cases were reported in Maine in 2025 — a record — and 946 cases had already been logged by June 9; deer ticks spread Lyme and other diseases, while dog ticks are mostly a nuisance in Maine.
Adult dog ticks should remain common through early August, adult deer ticks for the next few weeks, and hard-to-see deer tick nymphs are expected to be abundant in July before adult deer ticks return in fall.
Climate change has expanded deer ticks statewide, with Lyme now reported in all 16 counties, though deer ticks remain most prevalent along Maine's coast, especially the Midcoast.