2 New York state parks rank among nation's top tick hotspots

Key Points:

• Tick activity is increasing in New York, with two state parks—Green Lakes State Park and Harriman State Park—ranking among the top three nationally for tick-borne illness burden, according to World Atlas.
• Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness in New York, has seen nearly 19,000 reported cases in 2024, with the number of ticks submitted for testing rising by 145% between 2024 and 2025.
• The SUNY Center for Vector-borne Diseases reports a rise in lone star and dog ticks in Central New York, although deer ticks remain the most prevalent and are a primary carrier of Lyme disease.
• Prevention tips from New York's Department of Health include wearing protective clothing, staying on trails, frequent tick checks, showering after outdoor activities, and carefully removing attached ticks to reduce the risk of infection.
• Early treatment of Lyme disease with antibiotics such as doxycycline typically leads to full recovery, but monitoring for symptoms after a tick bite and seeking medical advice if symptoms develop is crucial.