Top 10 Tick Hotspots Across New York State as Bites Explode

Photo credit Erik Karitas

If you're spending time outdoors in New York, some regions pose a significantly higher risk for tick bites, which can sometimes lead to serious or even fatal illnesses.

According to recent data from the New York State Department of Health, the risk of encountering ticks is not the same across the state. Several areas, particularly in Upstate New York and the Hudson Valley, report a consistently higher number of tick-related incidents.

Top 10 Regions in New York Where Tick Bites Are Most Common

Here’s a breakdown of the areas in New York where you're most likely to experience a tick bite based on public health data:

10. Adirondacks (Medium risk)

9. Long Island (High risk)

8. Chautauqua-Allegany (High risk)

7. Thousand Islands (High risk)

6. Central New York (High risk)

5. Hudson Valley (High risk)

4. Capital Region (High risk)

3. Catskills (High risk)

2. Greater Niagara (High risk)

1. Finger Lakes (Very high risk)

New York is among the states with the highest rates of tickborne illnesses in the country, which includes Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Tick activity is especially elevated in warmer months.

Health officials recommend wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and checking for ticks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas.

Top 10 Tick Hotspots Across New York State as Bites Explode