Lyme Disease Awareness Month (LDAM)

The 2024 Lyme Disease Awareness Month theme is: Little Tick, Big Deal

Learn more about Lyme Disease Awareness Month and how to get involved:

About LDAM

Maine CDC observes Lyme Disease Awareness Month during May every year. Maine CDC encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors during the entire year, while also protecting themselves from ticks:

  • forest

    Know when you are in tick habitat and use caution.

  • long pants

    Wear light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs.

  • repellent

    Use an EPA-approved repellent such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin. Use permethrin on clothing.

  • magnifying glass

    Perform tick checks after any outdoor activity. Take a shower after exposure to tick habitat to wash off any crawling ticks.

Governor's Proclamation of May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Activities and Events

Youth Curriculum

Do you have or work with children ages 5 to 14 years old? Maine CDC developed a tick curriculum including videos and activities for children to help them learn more about ticks, the diseases they can spread, and prevention. Students, teachers, youth organizations, and parents are welcome to use this curriculum to help youth learn how they can stay safe from ticks and tickborne diseases.

2024 LDAM Calendar of Events:

Check back for more about coming events!

Poster Contest

Lyme Disease Awareness Month Poster Contest Instructions

  • The theme for the 15th annual Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest is: Little Tick, Big Deal
  • Rules and Information on How to Submit Posters for the 2024 LDAM K-8 Poster Contest: Rules (PDF)
  • All poster submissions must be accompanied by a signed waiver: LDAM Poster Contest 2024 Waiver (Word) | (PDF)
  • Posters should illustrate at least one of the four personal prevention techniques:
      1. Know when you are in tick habitat and use caution.
      2. Wear light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs.
      3. Use an EPA-approved repellent (DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus).
      4. Perform tick checks after any outdoor activity. Take a shower after exposure to wash off any crawling ticks.

For more information about tick prevention, please visit Tick Prevention and Property Management.

2023 Poster Contest Winners

Participants for the 2023 “Tick Free ME” poster contest include:

Name School Grade
Holly Hamilton Spruce Mountain Elementary School 3
Jason Caron Spruce Mountain Elementary School 3
Landon Croteau Spruce Mountain Elementary School 3
Amiyah Brown Spruce Mountain Elementary School 4
Anna Faulstich Yarmouth Elementary School 4
Bailey Moras Spruce Mountain Elementary School 4
Callie Colson Thomaston Grammar School 4
Charlotte Chamberlain Thomaston Grammar School 4
Emma Emery Thomaston Grammar School 4
Grace MacDonald Spruce Mountain Elementary School 4
Isabella Guzman Thomaston Grammar School 4
Mya Knowlton Spruce Mountain Elementary School 4
Mylee Anderson Thomaston Grammar School 4
Olive Grierson Thomaston Grammar School 4
Sophia Chen Thomaston Grammar School 4
Isabella McGrath Spruce Mountain Elementary School 5
Kaden Lee Spruce Mountain Elementary School 5
Oliver Quinn Thomaston Grammar School 5
Patrick Nawfel Spruce Mountain Elementary School 5
Alyssa Lampen Gorham Middle School 7
Cooper Warner Gorham Middle Schooll 7

Lyme Disease Awareness Poster Gallery

LDAM Community Partners

Lyme Disease Awareness Month partners for 2023 include:

Kennebec Valley YMCA Maine Public Health Association
Maine School Garden Network Maine Senior College Network
Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Maine Osteopathic Association
Maine Primary Care Association Maine Veterinary Medical Association
Healthy Acadia Maine Calling - Maine Public Radio
Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust