KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — Nothing sours a lovely day spent outside quite like a nasty tick bite.
The tiny bloodsuckers may be small, but one tick can transmit numerous diseases like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">13 April 2025, Brandenburg, Reitwein: Two ticks (Ixodida) can be seen on the top of a stalk in a meadow. Here the blood-sucking ectoparasites are waiting for their prey. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)
15 March 2024, Saxony, Battaune: A meadow tick caught by scientists from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Leipzig University. Photo: Sebastian Willnow/dpa (Photo by Sebastian Willnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)
It stands to reason that, therefore, higher tick populations can increase the risk of exposure to these diseases.
Unfortunately for residents of the Bluegrass State, ticks are very common. In fact, according to a recent report from Terminix, the extermination specialists, Kentucky is the 15th most tick-infested state in the U.S.
Using a blend of CDC data and the number of tick control services residents report using to create the list, Terminix has identified the five most tick-infested states as:
California
Florida
Texas
Pennsylvania
New York
Terminix noted that, generally, the highest populations of ticks are reported in the northeastern region of the country, corroborated by data released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDC released data highlighting the expanding Lyme disease problem that can be linked to an observed increase in tick populations.
Reported cases of lyme disease in the united states, 1992-2022 (epa)
A technical service manager (TSM) with Terminix attributed the increasing tick populations to climate change.
“Climate change continues to increase tick populations. As winters become more mild, and warm seasons increase in length, tick survival increases significantly,” said Tom Dobrinska, Terminix TSM.
The CDC released a case study highlighting the expanding tick population from 1995 to 2023.
Map of the United States showing reported cases of Lyme disease in 1995. One dot placed in county of residence for each reported case. (CDC)
Map of the United States showing reported cases of Lyme disease in 2010. One dot placed in county of residence for each reported case. (CDC)
Map of the United States showing reported cases of Lyme disease in 2023. One dot placed in county of residence for each reported case. (CDC)
According to the 2023 map shown above, Lyme disease is becoming more prevalent in Kentucky than in 1995 and 2010.
Terminix encouraged residents in Kentucky and other states that have seen increases in tick populations to take the following safety measures:
Keep yards trimmed
Wear long pants and sleeves outdoors
Use EPA-approved insect repellents
Perform tick checks after being outside
The Global Lyme Alliance noted that children between the ages of 3 and 14 are at the greatest risk for contracting Lyme disease, with more than 200 cases per day.
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