Explore the 8 U.S. States With the Most Ticks

One of the nastiest animals on this planet is the tick. Ticks are parasitic arachnids and they are these creatures that can bite. They bite humans, as well as other animals. Ticks also can transmit bacteria, viruses, and even parasites. These things that they can transmit can cause diseases in people and other animals. One of the diseases that ticks can usually transmit to humans is Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control has identified ticks that live in the United States. There are seven more prominent species of ticks in the U.S., and they live in different regions of the country. They are the American dog tick, black-legged tick, brown dog, Gulf Coast, Lone Star tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and the Western black-legged tick.

Let’s take a look at the eight U.S. states with the most ticks. Because the tick population is impossible to count, this will show the states with the most cases of Lyme disease.

8. Minnesota

There were roughly about 29,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in Minnesota between the years 2000 and 2020. Even though ticks can be found throughout the year in the state they are usually more common to spot between March and October. The most common species of ticks found in Minnesota are the black-legged tick and the American dog tick.

7. Maryland

There were 31,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in Maryland between the years 2000 and 2020. Unfortunately, Maryland is one of a dozen states where most Lyme disease cases happen. Moreover, roughly one-third of deer ticks in Maryland carry several diseases including Lyme disease. Lastly, the most common ticks that you will find in Maryland are the black-legged tick, the American dog tick, and the Lone Star tick.

6. Wisconsin

There were 42,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in Wisconsin between the years 2000 and 2020. The most common places where you’re going to find ticks are usually in the rural areas of the state, but also forested areas or urban city parks. Furthermore, the most prominent ticks that you will find in Wisconsin and the Midwest are the black-legged tick, the American dog tick, and the Lone Star tick.

5. Massachusetts

There were 50,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in Massachusetts between the years 2000 and 2020. Although there are several species of ticks in the state, the most common ones that you will find are the black-legged tick and the dog tick. Even though not all ticks can transmit diseases, in a study in Massachusetts, it was found that more than 50% of ticks carried some sort of disease.

4. Connecticut

Tick season in Connecticut is usually from April to October. From 2000 to 2020, the Lyme disease cases in the state reached a whopping 55,000. Connecticut has many species of ticks including the black-legged tick, the deer tick, and although rare, the lone star tick. Text usually transmits Lyme disease, however, there are other diseases they can transmit to humans including anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

3. New Jersey

New Jersey is also in an area where ticks are more prominent. Luckily there is a pill that has been developed by scientists that can protect you from Lyme disease. People are hopeful that this pill works and can combat the disease. In New Jersey, the Lyme disease cases from 2000 to 2020 were reported to be 79,000. The hotter months are the worst for people because that’s when ticks come out more often.

2. New York

The number of Lyme disease cases in New York from 2000 to 2020 was reported to be 101,000. Because New York is in a location where ticks are the most prominent, it is quite easy to get a tick bite in the state. The rural areas are much more common to see cases of Lyme disease. Furthermore, the most common tick you can see in New York City, including Staten Island and the Bronx, is the black-legged tick.

1. Pennsylvania

From the years 2000 to 2020, there were a whopping 134,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Of the seven species of ticks that are more prominent in the United States, four of them can be found in Pennsylvania. There are also less common species of ticks in the state. This means that the number of ticks in the state is probably greater than many other states in the nation. Among the areas that have the most ticks are the more rural parts of Pennsylvania including Happy Valley and Bucks County.