It's Going to Be a Bad Tick Season. Here's How to Protect Yourself

Experts warn that 2026 will likely be one of the worst tick seasons on record, driven by warmer winters that allow ticks to survive and breed at higher rates, combined with expanded populations of deer and rodents that serve as tick hosts. Joellen Lampman, the tick integrated pest management coordinator at Cornell, says the Northeast saw higher snowfall this past winter, which insulated dormant ticks in the ground and improved their survival odds heading into spring. The Gulf Coast tick and Lone Star tick are now appearing in regions where they weren't previously established, while the Asian Longhorned tick and other invasive species are also expanding their range without displacing native tick populations. To protect themselves, people should wear long pants tucked into socks, light-colored clothing, and permethrin-treated garments; perform thorough tick checks during and immediately after outdoor activities; and shower promptly to remove any attached ticks before they can transmit disease. Experts stress that removing ticks with tweezers within 24 to 36 hours is critical, since that's the window before an infected tick transmits pathogens like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.