Fordham Tri-State Tick Risk

Tick Index for August 28, 2026

5 out of 10: HIGH RISK

Tick Index

Tick Fact of the Week

The World Atlas (worldatlas.com) just came out (8/18/26) with a national list of US state parks having the highest tick-borne illness risk based on documented tick activity, research findings, and firsthand reports of infection.  Two NY state parks ranked in the top 3 (#2: Green Lakes State Park in Onondaga County.  #3: Harriman State Park in Rockland/Orange counties)!  Round Valley Reservoir in Hunterdon County, NJ is #4.  But PA has the #1 site: Pine Grove Furnace State Park.  And we’re not out of the woods yet.

About the Fordham Tick Index

The Fordham Tick Index is an estimate of the risk of being bitten by a nymphal or adult deer tick in the tri-state area, encompassing southern New York, Connecticut, and northern New Jersey. This index measures risk relative to other times of year.  

Both the nymph and adult tick are active at this time of year, although the smaller nymph is responsible for many more cases of Lyme disease. For more information about preventing tick bites, controlling ticks, Lyme disease and other illnesses ticks carry, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Fordham Tick Index is provided as a weekly public service by Fordham University and is based on both current and historical data from the Louis Calder Center, Fordham's Biological Field Station in Westchester County, N.Y. It is an estimate only. Actual risk may vary geographically. Therefore, always take precautions to prevent tick bites when outdoors.

Tick Risk Map 

Regional Map for Tick Index including: Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Hudson, Essex