As more New Yorkers head outside to enjoy the warmer weather, the bright yellow signs at park entrances become ever more relevant.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The signs are warning against ticks and tick bites, a message that city health officials are seconding. \u201cA few simple precautions can go a long way in preventing tick bites,\u201d the Parks Department\u2019s director of wildlife, Richard Simon, said in a statement<\/a> on June 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s true even though the kind of ticks that cause disease are rare in the city outside of parts of Staten Island and the North Bronx. But many New Yorkers are exposed to them while visiting forested areas in Long Island, upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to know:<\/p>\n Lyme disease<\/a> is the most common tick-borne illness. Early symptoms may include a \u201cbull\u2019s-eye\u201d skin rash, fever, fatigue and joint pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2025, New York City recorded 2,928 preliminary Lyme disease cases, up from 2,557 in 2024<\/a>, according to city health officials. The city also reported 98 cases of babesiosis<\/a>, a disease in which parasites infect and destroy red blood cells, and 107 cases of anaplasmosis<\/a>, a tick-borne bacterial infection last year.<\/p>\n Where are ticks found in NYC?<\/p>\n The city\u2019s health department regularly monitors tick populations in parks and green spaces. Officials say:<\/p>\n Blacklegged ticks, which can spread Lyme disease, are found on Staten Island and in the North Bronx.<\/p>\n Lone star ticks, linked to ehrlichiosis<\/a> and alpha-gal syndrome<\/a>, are also found in those areas.<\/p>\n Gulf coast ticks have been found on Staten Island.<\/p>\n Asian longhorned ticks can be found on Staten Island and in the North Bronx, though they have not been shown to spread diseases to people in the United States.<\/p>\n American dog ticks, which are associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can be found across all five boroughs. However, no NYC ticks have tested positive for this bacteria in recent years.<\/p>\n How can you avoid tick bites?<\/p>\n Health officials recommend the following steps if you\u2019re going to be spending time outdoors in nature:<\/p>\n Spray to keep safe: Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET or the more eco-conscious alternatives such as picaridin or IR3535.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dress for protection: Wear long sleeves, pants and light-colored clothing when spending time in wooded areas. Tuck pants into socks and stay in the center of marked trails. Ticks might be waiting for hosts on the edges of trails.\u00a0<\/p>\n Treat clothing and shoes with permethrin products. Permethrin affects the nervous system in insects, causing muscle spasms, paralysis and death. But be wary of direct contact. While permethrin is more toxic to insects than to people and dogs, cats are especially sensitive to permethrin.<\/p>\n After spending time outdoors:<\/p>\n Check yourself, children and pets for ticks, including behind the ears and in other hard-to-see areas. These include the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and in other skin folds, according to the city health department website<\/a>. It may be more difficult to see ticks in those areas, especially the small nymphs, as immature ticks are called.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shower within two hours of heading inside.<\/p>\n Use hot water when washing clothing to kill ticks, or tumble dry wet or damp clothes on low heat for 70 minutes or high heat for 40 minutes.<\/p>\n Why ticks are becoming more common<\/p>\n Experts say climate change, including warmer temperatures and shorter winters, is linked to longer tick seasons and growing and spreading tick populations.\u00a0<\/p>\n