Why New Yorkers Need to Pay Attention to Ticks This Year

This spring, public health officials have issued warnings about increased tick activity in New York City and surrounding areas. And for good reason. With warming temperatures and a surge in acorn production, the risk of catching a disease transmitted by ticks, such as Lyme disease, is climbing.

It may sound strange to hear that acorns are part of the problem. But here’s how it works. Oak trees produce acorns. When temperatures rise, the oak trees produce even more acorns than usual. Oak trees feed white-footed mice. These mice are the primary hosts (the animals that ticks feed off of to survive) for black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks.

Warmer temperatures means more acorns. More acorns means more mice. And more mice mean more ticks. As, if the mouse population drops, ticks start looking for other animals to bite and feed off of—like us humans. Over time, the force of infection rises.

What Tickborne Diseases Should You Worry About?

The most common concern in the Northeast is Lyme disease, which can cause fever, fatigue, joint pain, and a telltale rash. But blacklegged ticks can also carry other pathogens, including those that cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus—some of which can lead to serious neurologic illness.

Ticks go through several life stages. The nymph stage is especially dangerous because the ticks are tiny—about the size of a poppy seed—and can transmit infections while going unnoticed.

How Do You Prevent Tick Bites?

Fortunately, tick prevention is simple and effective. Here’s what I recommend:

• Wear long sleeves and pants when hiking or walking through brush
• Use insect repellent containing at least 40% DEET
• Treat clothing and spray your shoes with permethrin. Here’s a helpful video from CDC about using permethrin.
• After being outdoors, check your entire body carefully—especially behind the knees, around the waistband, underarms, scalp, and ankles

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If you find a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic—but act quickly:

1. Remove it with fine-tipped tweezers: Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward steadily. Avoid twisting or jerking.
2. Clean the area: Wash the bite site with soap and water, and apply antiseptic.
3. Save the tick: Place it in a sealed container or plastic bag for identification, in case you develop symptoms later.
4. Watch for symptoms: If you notice fever, rash, fatigue, or joint pain in the weeks following a bite, seek medical attention.

A Personal Note on Prevention

I grew up in New Jersey, where tick checks were a routine part of childhood. I recommend that all parents do the same. It’s important for all of us to spend time outdoors in nature, but we also stay vigilant for bugs that can bite us and infect us, what’s known as vector-borne diseases.

Ticks are part of the natural environment, but so is the knowledge to protect ourselves. This year, if you’re spending time in the parks, woods, or even your backyard in the Northeast, take a few precautions. It’s a small effort that can make a big difference.