Ticks in Michigan: What You Need to Know
In western and northern Michigan, there are many wooded areas where blacklegged tick populations thrive. According to reports from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, these ticks are spreading throughout the peninsulas, especially in spots with dense leaf litter. Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are mainly responsible for Lyme disease, while American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Each year, Michigan notes cases of anaplasmosis, particularly in northern counties where blacklegged tick populations have taken hold.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located near Empire, features extensive hardwood forests and dense vegetation along the northwest Lower Peninsula’s shoreline. Typically, tick encounters are more frequent in shaded wooded areas, away from the open dunes, particularly in locations where maple and beech leaf litter remains cool. As suggested by CDC habitat guidance, moist deciduous forests and wooded trail edges are ideal environments for blacklegged ticks, conditions that align with much of the park’s interior.
The presence of blacklegged ticks is well established in northern Michigan, linking them to Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Meanwhile, American dog ticks often inhabit grassy regions throughout the state and may be found in brushy areas within the park. Trails like the Empire Bluff Trail and portions of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail run through narrow wooded sections that become overgrown with low vegetation during late spring and summer.
Menominee River Corridor
The Menominee River corridor marks Michigan’s border with Wisconsin and encompasses cedar swamps, lowland hardwood forests, and dense underbrush that retains moisture throughout the warmer months. These humid woodland conditions fit the CDC’s descriptions of preferred blacklegged tick habitat in the Upper Midwest. Narrow pathways close to riverbanks frequently slice through brush and tall vegetation beneath thick tree cover, especially near fishing access points and undeveloped recreational areas. Surveillance data indicates that Menominee County is one of those Upper Peninsula regions where established blacklegged ticks thrive alongside ongoing tick-borne diseases. Lyme disease and anaplasmosis cases are reported here. The Pemene Falls section includes various paths bordered by brush, allowing visitors to transition between shaded woods and open grassy clearings that may also harbor American dog ticks.
Fort Custer Recreation Area
West of Battle Creek, Fort Custer Recreation Area lies in a region known for Lyme disease in southwest Michigan. The diverse ecosystems, featuring oak forests, prairie remnants, and wetlands, create frequent transitions between shaded woods and open spaces—ideal conditions for ticks waiting on low plants for passing hosts. You’ll find white-tailed deer moving among these habitats, particularly close to heavily brushed trails and grassy clearings that visitors often frequent.
In this area, blacklegged ticks thrive in wooded sections, while American dog ticks are generally located in longer grass and open recreational spaces across the state. The park’s Red Loop mountain biking trail shifts repeatedly between forest and grassy patches, where bikers and walkers may come into contact with vegetation during peak tick season. The main concern for tick-borne illness here remains Lyme disease.
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Located near Ontonagon, the Porcupine Mountains are home to extensive old-growth forests and dense canopy cover, creating suitable habitat for ticks. Thick organic debris and limited sunlight help maintain damp woodland ground conditions, as noted in CDC habitat descriptions for blacklegged ticks. During the warmer months, many narrow hiking trails become crowded with ferns, saplings, and low branches.
The presence of blacklegged ticks has been documented in western Upper Peninsula counties, linking them to Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Trails like the Escarpment Trail and areas around Lake of the Clouds feature long stretches of vegetation-lined paths where summer hikers might often find themselves brushed against dense growth.
Berrien County Dune and Woodland Corridor
Berrien County, located in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border, is home to established blacklegged tick populations amidst inland dune forests and dense vegetation. According to CDC criteria, wooded edges, leaf litter, and moist vegetation layers are typical habitats for blacklegged ticks—conditions present throughout parts of the county’s dune and woodland areas.
There is a well-documented incidence of Lyme disease in this region of southwest Michigan, where blacklegged ticks are now widespread across multiple counties close to the Indiana border. At Warren Dunes State Park, several trails—including a nature trail—witness the narrowing of paths due to dune grass, low shrubs, and overhanging vegetation during late spring and summer. American dog ticks are also fairly common in these grassy habitats, especially along unmanaged vegetation edges.
Tick Tracking
For those interested in tracking tick activity in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offers resources like the MiTracking dashboard and state tick surveillance guidance. These resources provide details on species identification, seasonal activity, and reported disease trends across Michigan counties. Additional information is available through Michigan State University Extension and various county health departments, which publish guidance on tick identification and prevention targeting the two main species: blacklegged ticks and American dog ticks.
If you’re planning to hit the trails, there are ways to minimize your exposure to ticks: steer clear of brush, routinely check for ticks after your hike (especially in hairlines, sock lines, and waistbands), use EPA-approved repellents, and shower and change clothes once you’re home.
