Warmer temps bring soaring tick populations – here’s how to stay safe from Lyme disease

Exposure to ticks can be a downside to spending time in the woods. skaman306/Moment via Getty Images

Spring’s warmer weather lures people outdoors – and into possible contact with ticks that spread Lyme disease.

Already, the 2026 tick season is booming. On April 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that emergency room visits due to tick bites are at their highest level since 2017. That may portend an especially severe season for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.