May 28, 2026
By Rich Davenport
The rise in the WNY tick populations has certainly been a subject of hot discussion in recent years, as has the associated rise in exposure to tick-borne disease, like Lyme Disease, as the numbers of black-legged ticks, or deer ticks, continues to grow in closer proximity to our suburban and urban population centers.
A recent news article on Fox News (May 28, 2026) indicates the CDC has so far tracked this season a record number of tick bite-related emergency room visits, accounting for roughly 71 cases per 100,000, on average. This finding applies to April 2026 alone, and doctors are warning that we can expect a continued rise in tick-borne diseases, as these 8-legged, blind parasites expand their range with the help of increased numbers of hosts, like whitetailed deer, carrying these arachnids into suburban and urban backyards. The CDC further reports that the largest age group being seen in ERs includes children younger than age 10, and older Americans age 70-79. This makes sense, as young children play in their back yards, often exposed to areas harboring ticks, and many retired people engage in gardening, America’s #1 pastime/ hobby.
In WNY, and throughout much of NYS, this increasing problem and threat to public health can be traced back to the increased numbers of deer being encountered in more densely populated areas continues to be the trend. But, deer alone, are not the only cause, as the reservoir species for the Lyme disease bacteria is the white-footed mouse, a rodent of great abundance in WNY, and one where unique conditions are now unintentionally exposing more mice to the communities, through reclaiming old railways for hiking and biking trails, and demolition of long, abandoned properties – places that acted as homes for the mice – have been cleaned up, debris and cover removed, forcing the mice to spread out from their established population centers. The mice are the easiest of hosts, especially for nymph ticks, and if that first meal the tick consumes comes from a carrier of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease, that tick becomes a danger. According to Dr. Stephen Goldberg, MD, family medicine practitioner at UofLHealth, Louisville, KY, “the recovery and expansion of white-tailed deer populations — critical hosts for adult blacklegged ticks — has been a major driver,” Goldberg added. “Deer density is positively associated with Lyme disease incidence.”
CDC reports that over the past 30 years, cases of Lyme disease have grown 3-fold, Nationally, but in pockets, like the Ohio River Valley, and in NE states like NY and VT, cases of Lyme disease have exploded nearly 10-fold over the past decade.
Tick borne diseases aren’t limited to the deer tick, or Lyme disease. The lone star tick, a species predominantly found in the SW, has been expanding its range, bringing concerns of alfa-gal exposure that causes allergic reactions to red meat. Although most tick-borne disease are bacteria-based, emerging viral threats, like Powassan virus, which is also carried by the deer tick, which can transmit very quickly, vs. Lyme disease, which can require up to 36 hours of tick exposure to transmit the bacteria. Powassan can cause severe encephalitis with a roughly 10% to 15% fatality rate, and more than half of survivors have lasting neurological deficits, Goldberg noted.
The threat of exposure to ticks can certainly impact outdoors enjoyment, be it hunting turkey in the spring, to simply spending time in your own backyard or working your garden. Fortunately, dealing with ticks isn’t something that just cropped up, although concern over tick exposure has expanded to include settings that used to be considered to be “tick-free”. Sheri Voss, a local expert in tick exposure and tick-borne disease prevention with WNY Lyme Associates, has been growing the awareness of this threat throughout WNY, and through events like the Erie County Federation’s National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration, brings her hands-on knowledge and advice to the public at large, arming us all with the how-to’s in limiting exposure to ticks, and what to do in the event a tick has latched onto you.
Treating your outerwear with Permethrin, applying insect repellent, like DEET or Picaradin on exposed skin, wearing light-colored, long sleeve shirts, pants with pant legs tucked into your socks to prevent ticks from traveling up your pant leg, can keep you safe from exposure. When you leave the field, bag your outerwear before putting it in your car. Take a shower when you return home to wash any insects off, and careful inspection for any ticks that may have attached, will help keep you safe. If a tick is found, extract the insect using a fine nosed pair of tweezers, gripping the tick firmly, and pulling straight up and out. You can put the tick in a small plastic baggie to have it tested for Lyme disease, but oftentimes, it is advisable to seek medical attention, as you may not know how long the tick was attached, and the sooner treatment is started, the better the outcomes regardless of illness you may have been exposed to.
How can this threat be reduced? Besides the personal protection steps, you can reduce tick exposure from your surroundings by:
- Keeping your lawn mowed to a short length – ticks love long grasses
- Rake up winter debris like old leaves and tree debris for disposal
- Keep thicker vegetation away from your house
- Remove any potential cover areas that could be used by mice for nesting
And, of course, become a hunter. Deer management is critical for healthy living, for both mankind and deer alike. The fact that you are feeding your family with one of healthiest forms of protein that exists, or even feeding neighbors or those in need, while reducing public health threats should be more than enough reason to become a conservation steward.