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Harriman State Park Among Nation’s Top Tick-Borne Illness Hotspots
VINnews • • health
Key Points:
- Harriman State Park in New York has been ranked third nationally for tick-borne illness risk, according to a World Atlas report highlighted by the Times Herald-Record.
- The park's large deer population and heavy visitor traffic contribute to its high tick activity, with the Lower Hudson Valley area showing presence of pathogens linked to Lyme disease and other illnesses.
- New York has seen an increase in tick activity, averaging over 17,500 new Lyme disease cases annually in recent years, with nearly 19,000 cases reported in 2024.
- Tick submissions to a SUNY Upstate Medical University lab rose by 145% between 2024 and 2025, and deer ticks remain the most common, though Lone Star and dog ticks are becoming more prevalent.
- Health officials advise hikers to wear protective clothing, use insect repellent, stay on marked trails, and perform thorough tick checks, noting ticks can be active whenever temperatures are above freezing.
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