Can ticks infest a house?

I found a tick in my house - should I be worried about an infestation? 

Finding a tick in your house doesn’t always mean you’re dealing with an infestation. Ticks are often brought indoors by dogs after spending time outside in grassy or brushy areas. Once inside, most tick species can’t survive long without a host, but one species—the brown dog tick—is an exception. Unlike most ticks that need outdoor conditions to live and reproduce, the brown dog tick can complete its entire life cycle indoors, making it a potential problem in homes.

Ticks have a relatively long lifespan, but they can’t live indefinitely without a host. While most tick species will die off in a house within days or weeks, the brown dog tick can survive for months and continue reproducing if it finds suitable hosts, such as dogs. This adaptability makes it one of the few tick species capable of causing an indoor infestation, particularly in warmer regions or homes with pets.

If you find a tick indoors, check your pets carefully—especially around the ears, neck, and between the toes—and wash their bedding in hot water. Vacuum thoroughly and empty the bag or canister immediately. If you continue seeing ticks indoors, contact our tick control professionals, who can identify whether brown dog ticks are present and treat your home and yard appropriately.