New Mexico has this reputation for being too dry for bugs. People move to Albuquerque or Santa Fe and think they’ve escaped the humidity-loving pests of the East Coast. It's a desert, right? Ticks need moisture. They need lush forests. Or so the logic goes.
Honestly, that’s a dangerous assumption.
The reality of ticks in New Mexico is way more complicated than a simple "dry vs. wet" binary. While you won't find the same density of deer ticks that plague a Connecticut backyard, our unique geography—ranging from high-desert scrub to 13,000-foot alpine peaks—creates specific pockets where these parasites thrive. If you're hiking the Jemez, hunting near Silver City, or even just letting your dog run through the tall grasses of the Rio Grande Bosque, you’re in their territory.
Ticks are patient. They are incredibly hardy. And in the Land of Enchantment, they are often carrying things you really don't want to catch.
The Species Breakdown: Who Is Actually Biting You?
Most people assume a tick is a tick. It’s not. In New Mexico, the "big three" are the American Dog Tick, the Brown Dog Tick, and the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. Occasionally, you’ll run into the Western Black-legged tick, but it’s less common here than in California.
The Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is a weird one. Unlike most species, it can complete its entire life cycle indoors. That’s a nightmare scenario for homeowners. If your dog picks one up and brings it into the house, they can actually infest your carpet and baseboards. They don't need the "great outdoors" to survive; they just need your heater and your pet.
Then there’s the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis). These are the ones you usually find on your pant legs after walking through grassy meadows or along riverbanks. They are tough. They can go months without a meal.
The Altitude Myth
I hear this all the time: "I was at 9,000 feet, there are no ticks up there."
Wrong.
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The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni) loves high elevations. They are frequently found in the sagebrush and ponderosa pine zones of the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountains. They’re active in the spring and early summer as soon as the snow melts. If the ground is clear and the sun is out, they’re waiting on the tips of grasses, arms outstretched in a behavior called "questing," waiting for a deer or a hiker to brush past.
Diseases You Should Actually Worry About
In the Northeast, everyone talks about Lyme disease. In New Mexico, Lyme is exceptionally rare. The CDC data usually shows zero to a handful of cases per year, and most of those are "imported" from people traveling back from the Midwest or East.
But don't get comfortable. We have our own problems.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is the big player here. It’s caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. It starts with a fever and a headache, but it can turn deadly fast if you don't get the right antibiotics (usually doxycycline). The "spotted" part of the name refers to a rash that often starts on the wrists and ankles before spreading. But here’s the kicker: not everyone gets the rash. If you wait for the spots to appear before seeing a doctor, you might be waiting too long.
We also deal with Tularemia. This is often called "Rabbit Fever." You can get it from a tick bite, or even from handling an infected carcass. It’s nasty. It causes skin ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.
And then there's Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF).
This one is unique because it’s usually associated with "soft ticks" (Ornithodoros). These ticks don't hang out in the grass. They live in the nests of rodents. If you’re staying in an old, rustic cabin in the mountains—maybe somewhere like Cloudcroft or the Pecos—and mice have been nesting in the walls, those ticks might come out at night while you sleep. They bite quickly, often for less than 20 minutes, and then retreat. You might never even see the tick. A week later, you have a high fever that disappears, only to come back a few days later. Hence the name: relapsing fever.
Why Climate Change is Changing the Map
New Mexico is getting hotter, but it’s also seeing more extreme weather swings.
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The New Mexico Department of Health has noted that as winters become milder, tick "season" starts earlier and lasts longer. We used to think of ticks in New Mexico as a May-through-July problem. Now? We see them active in March. If we have a wet "Miracle May" with lots of rain, the population explodes.
More moisture means more vegetation. More vegetation means more rodents and deer. More hosts mean more ticks. It’s a simple, brutal cycle.
Even the urban areas aren't safe. Albuquerque’s North Valley is a prime example. The proximity to the river and the dense shade trees create a microclimate that is significantly more humid than the West Mesa. If you’re walking the trails near the Rio Grande Nature Center, you are absolutely in tick country.
The "Match and Cigarette" Fallacy
Stop doing this. Seriously.
There is so much bad advice on the internet about how to remove a tick. People suggest burning them with a match, slathering them in peppermint oil, or covering them in Vaseline to "smother" them.
These methods are dangerous.
When you irritate a tick—by burning it or chemically attacking it—the tick's natural response is to regurgitate its stomach contents back into your bloodstream. If that tick is carrying RMSF or Tularemia, you just hit the "inject" button.
The only safe way to remove a tick is with fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp it as close to your skin as possible (on its head/mouthparts, not the body) and pull straight up with steady pressure. Don't twist. If the head stays in, don't panic. Your body will eventually push it out like a splinter. Just disinfect the area and move on.
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Protection That Actually Works in the Desert
Since we don't have the 100% humidity of the South, you have a few advantages. Ticks here dry out faster. But you still need a strategy.
1. Permethrin is your best friend.
Don't put this on your skin. Buy a spray bottle of 0.5% Permethrin and treat your hiking boots, your socks, and your pants. It stays effective through several washes. It doesn't just repel ticks; it's a neurotoxin for them. If they crawl on treated fabric, their legs stop working and they fall off.
2. The "White Sock" Trick.
If you're hiking in the Gila or the Jemez, wear light-colored clothing. It makes it infinitely easier to spot a tiny dark speck crawling up your leg before it finds a spot to latch on.
3. The Post-Hike Body Scan.
Ticks love "hot spots." Check your armpits, the back of your knees, your hairline, and—this is gross but necessary—your groin area. They want to hide where it's warm and moist.
4. Treat your pets.
In New Mexico, the Brown Dog Tick is the primary bridge between the wild and your living room. Talk to your vet about oral preventatives like Bravecto or NexGard. The "over-the-counter" collars often aren't enough for the heavy-duty wood ticks we have here.
What to Do If You Get Sick
If you find a tick and pull it off, you don't need to rush to the ER immediately.
Monitor yourself for 14 days. If you develop a sudden fever, a pounding headache, or a rash that looks like small red spots or a "bullseye," go to a doctor. Tell them specifically: "I was bitten by a tick in New Mexico."
A lot of doctors in the Southwest aren't looking for tick-borne illnesses because they think it's "too dry" here. You have to be your own advocate. Ask about RMSF. Ask about Tularemia.
Real-World Action Steps
Don't let the fear of ticks in New Mexico keep you off the trails. This state is too beautiful to stay inside. Just be smart about it.
- Audit your backyard: If you have tall weeds or woodpiles against the house, you're inviting rodents, which brings ticks. Clear a 3-foot "buffer zone" of gravel or wood chips between your lawn and any wooded areas.
- Check the dog every single time: After a walk in the Bosque or a hike in the foothills, run a flea comb through your dog's fur before they get in the car.
- Save the tick: If you do pull one off, put it in a small Ziploc bag with a damp cotton ball and stick it in the freezer. If you get sick later, having the actual specimen can help a lab identify exactly what you might have been exposed to.
- Use DEET on skin: If you aren't using Permethrin-treated clothes, use a repellent with at least 20-30% DEET on your skin.
The desert is full of things that bite, poke, or sting. Ticks are just one part of the ecosystem. Respect the environment, dress appropriately, and you'll be fine. Just stop thinking the dry air is going to save you. It won't.