Tick densities rose last year in Ulster and Greene counties, just as residents are heading back into the woods, brush, and tall grass where bites are more likely.
State public health data from 2025, the most recent available, showed adult blacklegged tick density more than tripled in Ulster County, rising to 37.57 ticks per 1,000 meters from 12.43 in 2024, a nine-year low. In Greene County, the rate rose to 71.75 from 42.87.
The increase comes as tick-borne illness remains a persistent concern in the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Blacklegged ticks can carry Lyme disease and other illnesses, while lone star ticks have been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a condition that can cause an allergy to red meat. New York also recently documented its first confirmed case of Bourbon virus, a rare tick-borne illness.
With tick season underway, The Overlook spoke with Stacy Kraft, public health education coordinator for the Ulster County Department of Health, about how to prevent bites, remove ticks safely, recognize symptoms, and protect children, pets, and yards.
“We know in the Hudson Valley that ticks are here to stay,” Kraft said.
What can people do to prevent ticks?
Unfortunately, you can’t just do one thing and expect it to be effective. We can wear light-colored clothing, tuck the socks over the pants, wear bug spray, and do yard maintenance, and we can still get ticked. When we’re going to be in our environment, we have to put on our armor. They’re efficient at finding their blood, but if we’re wearing a repellent that can disrupt their senses.
Are there repellents you recommend?
Permethrin is one of the most effective tick repellents. It actually kills the ticks. It’s made from the chrysanthemum flower, but it’s not for skin. It’s very deadly to ticks, but not that big of a deal to us, and if you’re using it correctly, where you’re putting it on clothing, it’s not really absorbing into our skin.
Other than repellents, what can people do to prevent ticks?
Showering after being outdoors, ideally within two hours, is an evidence-based method, because when you take off all your clothes you have the opportunity to really see what might be attached to your skin. I recommend that you have a full-length mirror in your house, preferably in your bathroom, so that when you get your clothes off, you can have a better time looking for and finding ticks. A magnification mirror is really helpful. One other tip on prevention is when I take off my clothes I throw them in the hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill the ticks, because high heat is effective at killing ticks.
If someone finds a tick on them, what should they do?
Remove it with the proper tool, which is something that doesn’t squeeze the back of the tick. So either the tick twister or tick tweezers that are fine-pointed are effective at removal, as long as you’re grabbing very close to the skin and not squeezing the back of the tick.
How soon should I remove a tick that has bitten me?
We like when people get it out quickly. The longer a tick is attached, the more time it has to transfer any germs that could be in the tick.
After I remove a tick, what should happen next?
After you remove it correctly and promptly, immediately notify the doctor and have them note it in your chart, and you’re monitoring your body for signs and symptoms, because then you can get to a quicker diagnosis and treatment plan. It’s important that you know what species you have, because different species carry different diseases. Once you have had a tick attached, mark it on your calendar and then start observing your body for signs. If you get a fever or flu-like symptoms, then you’re definitely going to want to address that with a doctor.
Kyle Bredberg is an is an intern and contributing reporter. You can reach him at reporting@theoverlooknews.com.