Central New York Tick Season Starts Early After Snowy Winter Boosts Survival

3 articles · Updated · CNYcentral.com · Jun 5

Central New York is seeing an early, active tick season, with experts warning that more people hiking and camping are raising exposure risk.
A snowy winter helped drive the surge by insulating ticks under snowpack, allowing more to survive into spring and creating what researchers called a “perfect storm.”
Black-legged ticks are the main concern because they spread Lyme disease; researchers are tracking activity with “tick drags” through grass and brush.
EPA-recommended repellents such as DEET or permethrin-treated clothing, full-body tick checks and fast removal with fine-tipped tweezers are the main precautions experts urge.
Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, and experts advise saving removed ticks in a sealed bag for possible testing and contacting a health provider if symptoms appear.