When Should You Worry About Ticks in Your Neighborhood?

Ticks in your neighborhood may pose a risk beyond the summer months—and even in places you consider safe, like parks and walkways.

A study examining tick exposure in “built environments” such as college campuses, parks, and playgrounds found significant numbers of infected ticks in areas with heavy foot traffic.

Between June 2012 and May 2014, researchers collected 1,375 deer ticks, including 481 nymphs and 894 adults, along frequently used walkways.

Ticks Are Active Beyond Summer

Most people associate Lyme disease risk with summer, when nymphal ticks are most active.

However, this study found that adult ticks were active from April through November.

Importantly, infection rates were higher in spring and fall than in summer.

Infection rates reached:

• 30.0–54.7% in fall
• 36.8–65.6% in spring
• 20.0–28.2% in summer

This suggests that the risk of encountering an infected tick may actually be greater outside of peak summer months.

Ticks in “Safe” Environments

Many people assume that developed areas—such as walkways, parks, and campuses—are lower risk.

However, researchers found an overall Borrelia burgdorferi infection rate of 39% in ticks collected from these high-use areas.

Ticks were present and infected even where people gather most frequently.

Why This Matters

Public health messaging often emphasizes summer prevention, which may lead to reduced vigilance during spring and fall.

In addition, people may underestimate risk in familiar environments close to home.

These findings suggest that tick awareness should extend across seasons and settings.

Clinical Takeaway

You should worry about ticks in your neighborhood any time they are active—from spring through fall—and even in parks, campuses, and other everyday environments.

Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.

Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention