Tick Trouble in New York: What You Need To Know As the Weather Warms Up

As the weather heats up across New York State, most of us are eager to get outside, whether it’s gardening, hiking, or simply soaking in the sunshine. But while you’re out enjoying nature, something is lurking in the tall grass and brush you need to watch out for: ticks.

These tiny pests aren’t just annoying, they’re dangerous, and the diseases they carry are becoming more common, especially here in the Northeast.

New York Is in the Danger Zone

An estimated 500,000 people in the U.S. contract Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses each year.  95% of these cases happen in the Northeast and upper Midwest, which includes New York. And if that’s not alarming enough, experts at Binghamton University’s Tick-borne Disease Center say the problem is only getting worse.

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Dr. Yetrib Hathout, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and director of the center, says his team collects and screens ticks to track the diseases they carry, and the findings are concerning.

Lyme Isn’t the Only Danger

“People talk about Lyme disease, but ticks carry different pathogens, not just the one that causes Lyme,” Hathout explains. Some ticks transmit parasites like Babesia, which don't respond to the usual antibiotics doctors prescribe. That’s why an accurate diagnosis is so critical, but too often, patients are treated with a “best guess” approach that can miss the mark entirely.

Pathogens Are Heading North

Hathout and his team have noticed something troubling: ticks in New York are starting to carry pathogens once only found in the southern U.S., including strains that cause spotted fever. That spread means tick surveillance and seasonal testing are more important than ever.

Climate Change Is Fueling the Surge

Why are ticks spreading? According to Mandy Roome, associate director of the Binghamton Tick-borne Disease Center, climate change is playing a major role. Ticks thrive when winters are mild, and we’ve had plenty of those lately. Deer ticks become active when temperatures hit just 39°F, so longer warm periods mean longer active seasons.

“Fifteen or twenty years ago, ticks weren’t nearly this much of a problem,” Roome notes. “Now, they’re everywhere, and they’re staying active longer.”

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How Development Makes It Worse

It’s not just the climate. Our own development, like roads, farms, and housing, has unintentionally made things worse. When we clear land, we create ideal habitats for mice, one of the primary carriers of Lyme and anaplasmosis. With more mice and fewer natural predators, we’re seeing more ticks, too.