When is tick season on Long Island?
April through September, with the highest risk from May to July when the poppy-seed-sized nymphs are active. Adult ticks can be out on any warm winter day.
Ticks on Long Island
Reviewed by William "Willy" Vizcarrondo, NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator (C1825832). Updated September 23, 2026.
Quick facts
Ticks are the most serious pest on Long Island from a health standpoint. The New York State Department of Health says tick-borne diseases are found most often on Long Island and in the lower Hudson Valley, and a yard that borders woods, tall grass, or a deer path is where most people get bitten.
| Size | Blacklegged (deer) tick nymph about the size of a poppy seed; adult about a sesame seed; lone star and dog ticks larger |
|---|---|
| Color | Blacklegged tick dark with a reddish body on females; lone star tick brown with a white dot on the female's back; dog tick brown with white markings |
| Look-alikes | Each other; small spiders; specks of dirt |
| Where you'll find it | Leaf litter, tall grass, brush, the edge where lawn meets woods, stone walls, wood piles, on deer, mice, and pets |
| Active on Long Island | April through September peak; adults active on any warm day, even in winter |
| Danger level | Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever |
Long Island season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Ticks are most active from April through September, and the tiny nymphs that cause most Lyme cases peak from May into July.
How to identify it
The blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick, is the one that carries Lyme disease, and the nymph stage that bites most people in early summer is about the size of a poppy seed, which is why bites go unnoticed. Adults are sesame-seed sized.
Lone star ticks, now common on the East End and spreading west, are larger and the female has a single white dot on her back. American dog ticks are the biggest and have white patterning. Any tick found attached should be removed with fine tweezers, straight out, and saved.
Signs you have them
- Ticks on pets after they've been in the yard
- Ticks on kids and adults after yard work, especially behind the knees, at the waistband, and in the hair
- A bull's-eye rash after a bite
- Deer bedding down in or passing through the yard
- Heavy leaf litter and brush at the property line
Why it matters
New York has recorded more than 95,000 confirmed Lyme cases since 1986, plus rising cases of babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and the state names Long Island as one of the two regions where these diseases are found most often (NYS Department of Health).
Ticks wait on the tips of grass and brush for a host to brush past (CDC), so a yard with tall edges, leaf litter, and deer traffic delivers them straight to kids and dogs.
Can I handle it myself?
A lot of it. The CDC's yard guidance is specific: remove leaf litter, clear tall grass and brush at the edge of the lawn, put a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between the lawn and any woods, mow often, stack firewood neatly in a dry spot, keep play sets and patios away from the yard edge and trees, and fence out deer.
Repellents with DEET or picaridin on skin and permethrin on clothing are what the NYS Department of Health recommends. Showering within two hours of coming inside reduces Lyme risk (CDC). What you can't do yourself is knock the population down in a yard that already has it.
How Bobby Bugs treats it
A free estimate, then a targeted treatment of the tick habitat on the property: the lawn edges, leaf litter zones, brush, stone walls, and the perimeter where the yard meets woods. Tick treatment is priced by the property and carries no guarantee, because ticks come back in on deer and mice, so we're honest that it's a seasonal knockdown, not a one-time fix.
More on tick control on Long Island.
Related answers
Frequently asked questions
Does Long Island have a lot of Lyme disease?
Yes. The New York State Department of Health says tick-borne diseases are found most often on Long Island and in the lower Hudson Valley.
What can I do to my yard to reduce ticks?
Remove leaf litter, cut back tall grass and brush at the edges, lay a 3-foot wood chip or gravel border between lawn and woods, mow often, keep play equipment away from the edges, and keep deer out.
Does a tick treatment last all season?
No. A treatment knocks the population down in the habitat zones for weeks, but ticks come back in on deer and mice. Most Long Island yards that border woods need more than one treatment per season.
Sources
Think you have ticks? Call (516) 509-6001 for a free written quote.