Spring is here, and so are ticks

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Doctors say 90% of all diseases transmitted by an insect bite originate with ticks, even when a mosquito does the biting. As temperatures rise and Americans head back outdoors, ticks are already active in many regions across the United States. Experts say tick-borne illnesses are rising, and tick risk is showing up in more places and for longer periods of the year.

In the United States, ticks account for the vast majority of vector-borne diseases. Lyme disease alone sickens hundreds of thousands of people each year and can cause prolonged symptoms if not treated early. Ticks are also linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a growing food allergy triggered by tick bites that can cause delayed, sometimes severe reactions to mammal-derived foods like beef and pork.

People now encounter more ticks in newer ways. An article published by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports ticks have now been documented in every U.S. state. According to the National Institutes of Health, "bites from infected ticks are responsible for about half a million new illnesses each year in the U.S." Infections such as Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, anaplasmosis and babesiosis are on the rise, including in areas where they were once uncommon.

A separate analysis from Boston University infectious disease specialists found deer ticks are appearing in broader geographic areas and remaining active for longer seasons. Researchers link this shift to warmer winters and earlier springs that expand the window for human and animal exposure.

This tick season may be different

Scientists who track tick activity say recent weather patterns have created favorable conditions for ticks to survive and reproduce. Warmer winters and higher humidity can improve tick survival, and abundant hosts like deer and rodents help ticks complete their life cycle.

Health officials also note that the geographic range of certain species is expanding. The lone star tick, once concentrated in the Southeast, is now well established across much of the Midwest and Northeast. That shift brings new health concerns like alpha-gal syndrome in addition to existing tick-borne illnesses.

Where tick encounters happen now

Ticks still thrive in classic habitats such as wooded edges, tall grass and leaf litter. But risk is not limited to remote trails. More people encounter ticks closer to home, in yards, parks and neighborhood green spaces, which can make prevention feel less like a hiking problem and more like a daily-season problem.

Some species also behave differently, which changes how bites happen. The lone star tick is known for being more aggressive than other ticks. That matters because it can increase the odds of quick, unexpected contact during routine outdoor time.

Lone star ticks also create a unique challenge at the smallest life stages. Larvae can hatch in dense clusters, and a single brush with low vegetation can leave someone with dozens of tiny ticks that are easy to miss.

This is also where alpha-gal syndrome enters the conversation. Lone star ticks are closely tied to the condition, and as their range has expanded beyond the Southeast, more people have reported delayed allergic reactions to mammal-derived foods and products that they tolerated for years.

Lyme disease remains the most common risk

Lyme disease is still the most widely recognized tick-borne illness in the United States. Transmitted primarily by blacklegged ticks, it can cause fever, fatigue, joint pain and, in some cases, long-term complications if not treated promptly. The CDC estimates that approximately 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year in the United States. Other tick-borne infections include alpha-gal syndrome, anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

Early detection is not just about spotting a bull's-eye rash. Many people never develop one, and early symptoms can resemble a summer virus: fatigue, headache, fever or muscle aches that hit days to weeks after time outdoors. That overlap is one reason clinicians encourage people to mention recent tick exposure during spring and summer visits, even if the bite itself seemed minor.

Timing matters, too. The longer a tick stays attached, the greater the chance of transmission for several infections. That is why prevention advice often focuses on reducing the odds of a tick attaching in the first place, then finding and removing it quickly if it does. In practice, that means treating clothing, checking pets and doing consistent full-body tick checks, not just scanning arms and legs.

A lesser-known condition linked to tick bites

Beyond infections, researchers are paying closer attention to a condition known as alpha-gal syndrome, a food allergy that can develop after a tick bite. The syndrome occurs when a bite triggers an immune response to a sugar molecule found in mammalian meat.

People with alpha-gal syndrome may experience delayed allergic reactions several hours after eating beef, pork or lamb. Symptoms can range from hives and gastrointestinal distress to severe, life-threatening reactions.

The CDC reports a sharp rise in suspected alpha-gal cases in recent years, with tens of thousands of positive tests reported nationwide. As ticks continue to spread into new areas, clinicians expect the number of affected individuals to grow.

Awareness remains uneven. Because reactions are delayed and symptoms vary, people may struggle to connect food reactions with earlier tick bites, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses.

Alpha-gal syndrome can be especially confusing because reactions tend to be delayed. Someone might eat beef or pork at dinner, then wake up hours later with hives, stomach pain, vomiting or, in severe cases, breathing trouble. That time gap can make it hard to connect symptoms to a specific food, and even harder to connect the food reaction back to a tick bite that happened days or weeks earlier.

The condition can also reach beyond meat. Mammal-derived ingredients show up in unexpected places, including gelatin-based foods, some medications and some personal care products. For people who develop alpha-gal syndrome, that means the "avoid red meat" advice can be only the beginning of learning how to reduce reactions.

One more point for prevention: people with alpha-gal syndrome are often warned to avoid additional tick bites because repeated bites may worsen symptoms or make reactions harder to control. That makes tick checks and repellent strategies especially important for anyone who has already experienced suspected alpha-gal reactions.

Ticks are thriving

Several factors are driving the increase in tick activity and disease risk. Climate trends play a major role. Warmer average temperatures allow ticks to remain active longer and survive winters that once kept populations in check.

Changes in land use and wildlife patterns also contribute. Suburban development near wooded areas increases human exposure, while growing deer and rodent populations provide ample hosts for ticks to feed and reproduce. Together, these conditions create an environment where ticks can flourish close to homes, parks and recreational spaces.

Practical ways to reduce risk

Experts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emphasize that prevention remains the most effective defense against tick-related illness. Protective clothing can make a difference. Long sleeves, long pants and light-colored fabrics make ticks easier to spot. Tucking pants into socks adds an extra barrier.

Repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, including products containing DEET or picaridin, help reduce bites. Clothing treated with permethrin provides additional protection. LeAnne Barta, co-founder and president of Indiana Lyme Connect, shares, "In one study, wearing just permethrin-treated shoes and socks led to a 74% reduction in ticks latching onto shoes and crawling up the person's leg."

Yard maintenance matters as well. Keeping grass trimmed, removing leaf litter and creating clear borders between lawns and wooded areas can reduce tick habitat around homes.

How to check for ticks

Another important preventative step is to conduct a tick check. These are critical, even after spending just a short time outside. Removing a tick within 24 hours greatly lowers the risk of disease transmission.

A glance is not enough. Ticks can be tiny, and nymphs are easy to confuse with freckles or a speck of dirt. A more effective approach is to check methodically, including the hairline, behind the ears, underarms, waistband, behind the knees and anywhere clothing fits snugly. Showering soon after coming indoors can help reveal ticks that have not attached yet.

Pets need the same attention. Dogs can bring ticks inside even when they are on preventives, and ticks often hide around collars, ears, between toes and along the tail. That is why veterinarians and tick educators emphasize a slow, hands-on check after walks, yard time or visits to parks.

A growing public health concern

Ticks may be small, but their impact is expanding. As spring unfolds and outdoor activity increases, experts urge awareness, prevention and early action. Understanding the risks, recognizing symptoms and taking simple precautions can help reduce the chances that a day outside turns into a long-term health problem.

Living with the culinary challenges of a tick-borne food allergy, Sage Scott creates and shares delicious mammal-free recipes at Sage Alpha Gal. From her Kansas City home, she inspires not only fellow alpha-gal syndrome sufferers, but also vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians and flexitarians to enjoy recipes free of beef, pork and other alpha-gal allergy triggers.