It’s early autumn in Sussex. The bracken is beginning to die back, acorns litter the ground, and the morning air carries the kind of chill that usually signals the end of the tick season. Yet this year, as we continue to work across estates and woodlands throughout the South East, we’re still pulling ticks from deer, and in more than a few cases, from ourselves.
For those of us who spend our lives outdoors, this shift has not gone unnoticed. Ticks are persisting later than ever before, appearing active well into months where cold, damp weather would once have suppressed them entirely. It’s an unsettling trend, and one that speaks volumes about the changing environmental conditions of our countryside.
What’s driving that change, from warmer autumns to expanding fallow herds, and why both landowners and deer managers need to adapt their practices accordingly.
A Longer Tick Season
Traditionally, the tick season in southern England ran from late March to September, tapering off as ground temperatures dropped below 7°C. By early October, most of us expected only the odd straggler, the last few clinging on before winter dormancy.
That pattern no longer holds true. Across Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshire, we are now seeing active ticks as late as November. Reports from estates and Forestry England sites mirror our own experience: ticks are persisting longer, appearing in higher densities, and in some areas, reactivating during mild winter spells.
The biological explanation is simple but significant. Ticks, like most arachnids, are ectothermic; their activity depends on temperature. When winters become milder and shorter, their dormant period shrinks. They feed, breed, and spread for longer each year. Over time, that means higher population densities and increased transmission risk for both wildlife and humans.
Warmer Climates and Milder Winters
The link between climate change and tick survival is now well documented across Europe. Studies from the University of Bristol and Public Health England show that a rise of just one or two degrees Celsius in average winter temperatures can extend the active season of ticks by up to six weeks.
Here in the South East, that model is visible on the ground. The past five winters have been notably mild, with soil temperatures rarely dipping below the threshold that kills overwintering larvae and nymphs. Moisture levels have remained high, creating ideal microclimates in leaf litter and dense vegetation.
The result is that tick life cycles which once ran cleanly from spring to late summer now overlap. Adults remain active while nymphs emerge, creating constant host pressure. Where one generation once replaced another, we now see year-round continuity. And in ecological systems with abundant hosts, that continuity has serious consequences.
The Fallow Connection
Deer are the principal reproductive host for ticks in much of southern England, and the fallow explosion of the past decade has provided an ideal vector for population growth.
Unlike roe or muntjac, fallow move in large, cohesive herds, often twenty to sixty strong, covering significant distances between feeding and resting areas. Each animal can carry hundreds of ticks at various stages of development. When herds bed down in shaded woodland or graze field margins, they leave behind clusters of larvae ready to attach to the next passing host.
In unmanaged landscapes, where herds move freely between estates without coordinated control, this becomes a self-reinforcing cycle. Higher deer densities support higher tick densities, which in turn increase transmission potential across species. Add in a warmer, wetter climate, and the equation becomes obvious: more ticks, for longer.
On several of our contracts this season, we have seen this first-hand. Fallow with heavy tick burdens well into October, roe showing early signs of irritation and hair loss from infestation, and even dogs picking up larvae from woodland rides long after the first frosts should have arrived.
The relationship is direct, measurable, and worsening.
Woodland Condition and Tick Habitat
Another contributing factor is the condition of many of our lowland woodlands. Over the past 30 years, active woodland management has declined across much of the South East. Unmanaged rides, dense thickets, and overgrown glades create the perfect humid microhabitats for ticks to thrive.
Well-managed rides, mown in spring and maintained through summer, reduce ground humidity and interrupt tick development. In contrast, dense, shaded woodlands with heavy leaf litter and bramble cover act as nurseries. Even minor interventions such as two- or three-zone ride cutting, supported through Countryside Stewardship options can significantly reduce tick densities.
We have noticed a marked difference between managed and unmanaged sites. On estates where rides are maintained and vegetation kept low, tick encounters are far fewer. On unmanaged sites, where vegetation grows waist-high, they are abundant, not just on deer but on people.
Ticks thrive in neglect. And unfortunately, so do the conditions that make their spread easier.
Possible Genetic Adaptations
There is growing speculation within the scientific community that we may be witnessing a degree of genetic adaptation among ticks in the UK. Reports from Public Health Scotland and European tick-monitoring programmes suggest that certain populations are developing greater tolerance to both temperature extremes and reduced humidity.
That means even if climate conditions temporarily revert, these adapted populations may persist. Whether through hybridisation or natural selection, ticks that can remain active at lower temperatures have a clear evolutionary advantage, and it is likely we are now seeing that expressed on the ground. From a field perspective, that aligns with what we have observed this year: ticks active in cooler conditions, attaching earlier in the morning, and persisting later into autumn. While full genomic studies are still underway, the anecdotal evidence across multiple regions suggests that the genus is becoming more resilient.
The Human Risk: Lyme Disease and Beyond
With increased tick activity comes increased risk of disease transmission. Lyme disease remains the most recognised, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
For those working outdoors, deer managers, foresters, gamekeepers, and conservation officers, the risk is not theoretical. It is occupational.
At Wildscape, we have experienced this first-hand. Earlier this year, following a bite that developed into the characteristic bulls-eye rash, I underwent a full course of antibiotics and several rounds of blood tests after developing a severe reaction mid-treatment, it served as a stark reminder of how quickly things can escalate.
The takeaway is simple: check yourself daily, treat every bite seriously, and never dismiss flu-like symptoms during tick season. Early diagnosis saves lives and careers.
Practical Mitigation: What Landowners and Managers Can Do
There is no single fix for the increasing tick problem, but there are several steps landowners and estate managers can take to reduce risk.
1. Manage Deer Populations
The simplest correlation is between deer density and tick abundance. Reducing fallow numbers through structured, professional management lowers the reproductive base for tick populations. Estates operating under Countryside Stewardship grants such as CWS1 (Deer Management) should view this as an ecological priority, not just a funding requirement.
2. Improve Woodland Structure
Incorporate ride management and open glades into woodland design. Two- and three-zone rides improve airflow and sunlight penetration, drying leaf litter and reducing humidity. Encourage woodland edge diversity with mixed vegetation heights rather than dense thickets.
3. Maintain Fencing and Access Control
Where feasible, fencing high-risk areas such as public paths through deer-dense woodland can reduce both deer movement and tick spread. Signage warning the public to check themselves after walking through long grass is simple but effective.
4. Encourage Public Awareness
Dog walkers and recreational users often underestimate the risk. Estates should consider information boards or online updates during peak tick activity, encouraging the use of repellents and regular checks.
5. Use Personal Protection and Hygiene Protocols
For deer managers and forestry workers, long trousers, gaiters, and permethrin-treated clothing remain the best defence. Regular checks, especially behind knees, around the waist, and in hairlines, are essential. Remove ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers, never burn or twist.
What We Are Doing at Wildscape
At Wildscape, we have adapted our practices to reflect these shifting conditions. Our field teams now operate with year-round tick awareness protocols, not just during the traditional spring and summer months.
Each deer carcass processed through our larder is inspected for tick load density, and that information feeds into seasonal management decisions.
We also maintain close communication with landowners, ensuring that public-facing areas such as vineyards, golf courses, and school estates are properly risk assessed during high-activity periods.
This approach is not only about risk reduction, but also about recognising ticks as part of the wider ecological picture. The same factors that make a woodland healthy, balance, light, and diversity, are also those that keep tick populations in check.
The Broader Implications
The persistence of ticks later into the year is more than just an inconvenience; it is an early warning signal about our changing ecosystems. Longer active seasons are symptomatic of wider environmental shifts: warmer climates, altered species dynamics, and fragmented management across landscapes.
Unchecked, this could lead to a future where tick-borne diseases become endemic across much of southern England, impacting not only wildlife and livestock but rural economies reliant on outdoor recreation and tourism.
This is not alarmism. It is a recognition of what we are already seeing. More deer, warmer winters, and unmanaged habitats create a perfect storm that demands a coordinated, professional response from those of us on the ground.
Ticks have always been part of our countryside, but their behaviour is changing, and fast. Longer seasons, higher resilience, and expanding deer populations are combining to make them a persistent challenge for anyone working or walking in rural landscapes.
Professional deer management plays a central role in mitigating that risk. By controlling herd densities, improving habitat condition, and maintaining constant observation, we can limit both tick proliferation and the health threats they pose.
But the responsibility does not lie with deer managers alone. Landowners, agents, and the public all have a part to play through proactive management, awareness, and respect for the environments we share.
At Wildscape Deer Management, we will continue to monitor, adapt, and educate, ensuring that every step we take in the field reflects both the reality of our changing countryside and our commitment to safeguarding those who live and work within it.
If you are a landowner or estate manager concerned about rising tick activity or considering professional deer management to mitigate habitat and health risks, contact Wildscape Deer Management.
