How common are tick bites in France and how to protect yourself
Most bites are harmless, but knowing how to prevent these and remove ticks can help reduce the risk of infection
Published
Ticks are becoming an increasingly familiar concern in France as they become more active in rising temperatures.
The latest figures from Santé publique France (the French national health agency) show that almost one in 20 adults (4.9%) said they had been bitten by a tick in the previous 12 months.
Most tick bites do not lead to illness. However, some ticks carry pathogens that can transmit infections including Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can affect the skin, joints and nervous system but is usually treated successfully with antibiotics if diagnosed early.
Tick bites latest reports
Tick activity in France can be monitored through CiTIQUE, a citizen science programme where people can report tick bites through the Signalement TIQUE app or website and, if they wish, send the tick to researchers for analysis.
Between January and April 2026, the latest figures available, CiTIQUE received 2,085 voluntary reports of tick bites. Of these 1,477 involved people and 608 involved animals. During the same period, 750 ticks were sent to laboratories for analysis.
The figures help researchers monitor where ticks are active and which pathogens they carry. However, because reporting is voluntary, they represent only a fraction of the bites that occur each year.
Tick activity also varies considerably throughout the year. They are generally most active between May and July, and reports increase sharply during this period. During the 2025 peak season CiTIQUE received more than 7,000 reports over three months.
Where are tick bites most common?
According to Santé publique France, those living in rural areas are more likely to report being bitten than those living in towns and cities.
The highest proportions of people reporting a tick bite over the course of a year were recorded in:
Limousin
Franche-Comté
Lorraine
Alsace
In comparison, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica recorded the lowest proportions.
Although forests remain the most common habitat for ticks, many bites also happen closer to home. Previous CiTIQUE research found that some 30% of reported bites occurred in private gardens, while others took place in parks, fields and other green spaces.
How to reduce your risk
A few simple precautions before, during and after spending time outdoors can help protect you from tick bites.
These include wearing long sleeves and long trousers, tucking trousers into socks if walking through long grass, wearing light-coloured clothing (to make ticks easier to spot) and closed shoes or boots, applying a tick-approved repellent and carrying a tick-removal tool.
While outdoors, stay on marked paths where possible, avoid long grass and dense vegetation, check your clothing regularly and inspect children during long walks, paying particular attention to the scalp, head and neck.
Once home, inspect your body carefully, particularly behind the knees, under the arms, around the waist and on the scalp. Check children and pets as well, repeating the inspection the following day as very small ticks can easily be missed. Wash outdoor clothing at 60C or tumble-dry it for at least an hour.
What should you do if you find a tick?
If you find a tick, you should remove it as soon as possible, ideally with a tick-removal tool if available or fine-point tweezers if not.
You should grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and remove it steadily, avoiding squeezing the tick's body. Do not apply alcohol, oil, petroleum jelly, soap or nail varnish before removal, as this can stress the tick and may increase the chance of infected saliva entering the bite.
Once the tick has been removed you need to disinfect the bite and monitor the area for about four weeks.
If you develop an expanding red rash (erythema migrans), flu-like symptoms, fever, unusual fatigue or joint pain during that time, seek medical advice promptly.
The map below, created using data collected by Anses (National agency for food, environment and occupational health safety) via CiTIQUE, also shows where ticks were found to carry pathogens.
Red areas indicate that at least one pathogen was identified in the ticks tested, while blue areas indicate that no pathogens were detected.
