Lone Star ticks in South Carolina

Yes. Lone Star ticks live in South Carolina.

CDC lists Lone Star ticks as established in 25 of South Carolina's 46 counties.

Peak season: March – OctoberNo state figure; regional source: Georgia Department of Public Health (opens in a new tab)
What to do: Use repellent outdoors and check yourself, your kids and your pets for ticks when you come in.
Where ticks wait: Wooded areas and shaded trail edges
Tall grass, brush, and overgrown fields
Leaf litter and ground cover
Shaded borders where lawns meet woods
Who should take extra care: Hikers and campers, hunters, pet owners, gardeners and yard workers, golfers, and parents of young children.

Named counties

Richland County (Columbia area)Found hereCDC county record, 2025: established. CDC county data, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Charleston CountyFound hereCDC county record, 2025: established. CDC county data, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Greenville CountyFound hereCDC county record, 2025: reported, though not in the numbers CDC needs to call it established. CDC county data, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Lexington CountyFound hereCDC county record, 2025: reported, though not in the numbers CDC needs to call it established. CDC county data, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

Each rating gives its source. “Alpha-gal hotspot” is kept for the counties CDC names for their number or rate of suspected cases. Ticks vary within every county.

If you find one on you

Take it out with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up, and write down the date. The step-by-step guide tells you what to watch for, and for how long.

What to do after a bite Identify the tick

How to avoid bites in South Carolina

Use EPA-registered repellent (DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus)
Treat clothing and gear with permethrin
Wear long sleeves and tuck pants into socks in brushy areas
Stay on cleared trails and avoid tall grass and leaf litter
Shower within two hours of coming indoors
Do daily tick checks on people and pets during the season

The full prevention guide

Find your county

Each of South Carolina’s 46 counties has its own page with CDC’s record for it, a map of the counties around it, and season and prevention notes.

Loading counties…

Fig. 1. South Carolina’s 46 counties, by CDC’s 2025 record. Click one to open its page.

Established25
Reported12
No records9

Common questions

Are there Lone Star ticks in South Carolina?

Yes. CDC lists Lone Star ticks as established in 25 of South Carolina's 46 counties. CDC says South Carolina has fewer suspected alpha-gal cases than its neighbors, and nobody yet knows why. Residents and outdoor workers should still take tick steps through the long warm season.

When is tick season in South Carolina?

Lone Star ticks in South Carolina are most active from March to October. They can still bite outside those months on warm days.

Can I get alpha-gal syndrome from a tick bite in South Carolina?

It's possible. Alpha-gal syndrome is a delayed allergy to red meat linked to Lone Star tick bites, and those ticks live in South Carolina. Most bites do not cause it. If you get hives, swelling or stomach pain 2 to 6 hours after eating red meat, see a doctor.

What should I do after a tick bite in South Carolina?

Take the tick out with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up. Wash the bite, keep the tick or a photo of it, and write down the date. Watch for symptoms for the next few weeks. See a doctor if you get a rash, a fever, feel very tired, or react to food.

How do I get a tick identified in South Carolina?

Seal the tick in a bag with a damp paper towel and take a clear photo. Your state health department or a university extension program may be able to name it or test it.

Where this comes from10 sources · Last reviewed June 2, 2026Show

1.
Where Ticks Live (opens in a new tab) · CDC
The Lone Star tick is widely distributed in the Northeast, South, and Midwest U.S.
2.
Lone Star Tick Surveillance (opens in a new tab) · CDC
County-level established vs. reported records. 'Established' = 6+ ticks or multiple life stages collected in 12 months.
3.
Alpha-gal Syndrome (opens in a new tab) · CDC
What alpha-gal syndrome is, symptoms, and its association with tick bites.
4.
Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — U.S., 2017–2022 (MMWR) (opens in a new tab) · CDC / MMWR
Highest suspected-AGS prevalence across a contiguous southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic region; most cases align with the established Lone Star tick range.
5.
Current and Future Distribution of the Lone Star Tick in North America (opens in a new tab) · Raghavan et al., PLOS ONE (2019)
Ecological niche modeling of Amblyomma americanum range and projected northward expansion.
6.
Preventing Tick Bites (opens in a new tab) · CDC
7.
Find the Repellent That Is Right for You (opens in a new tab) · EPA
Search tool for EPA-registered repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus).
8.
Lone Star Tick Surveillance Map Data, 2025 (county status) (opens in a new tab) · CDC
Every county's status: Established (6 or more ticks, or more than one life stage, found in a year), Reported (fewer), or No records. Linked from CDC's Lone Star Tick Surveillance page.
9.
Alpha-gal IgE Seroprevalence Among Blood Donors, 10 States, 2024–2025 (MMWR) (opens in a new tab) · CDC / MMWR
South Carolina has established lone star tick populations but fewer suspected AGS cases than its neighboring states.
10.
Tick-borne Diseases (opens in a new tab) · Georgia Department of Public Health
Tick-borne illnesses are most often transmitted between early spring and late fall. Alpha-gal syndrome is among emerging tickborne diseases DPH is watching, though cases are rarely reported in Georgia.

Educational information only, not medical advice. If someone is struggling to breathe or having a severe reaction, call 911. Read the disclaimer.

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