Historically, Western New York (WNY) saw lower rates of tick-borne illnesses compared to the Hudson Valley or Long Island. However, recent surveillance data from the New York State Department of Health indicates a sharp upward trend in both tick populations and infection rates in the Buffalo area.
While Lyme disease remains the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne illness in the region, it is no longer the only concern. Several other pathogens are now established in local tick populations:
Lyme Disease: Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, it is transmitted primarily by the nymph and adult stages of the Blacklegged tick.
Anaplasmosis: A bacterial infection that has seen a marked increase in Upstate New York over the last five years. It often presents with high fever, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Babesiosis: Caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. While once rare in WNY, cases are increasingly reported as the parasite’s range expands northward.
Powassan Virus: A rare but serious viral infection. Unlike Lyme disease, which can take 24–48 hours to transmit, Powassan can be transmitted within minutes of a tick attachment.
The risk of contracting a tick-borne disease in Buffalo is heavily dictated by our unique Great Lakes climate. Ticks in Western New York do not follow a simple “summer only” schedule; their activity is governed by temperature and humidity levels.
Climate Influence
The humid continental climate of Buffalo provides the moisture that ticks require to survive. Mild winters and high humidity levels in the spring and summer prevent ticks from drying out (desiccation), leading to higher survival rates and expanding populations in suburban backyards, local parks like Chestnut Ridge, and the Niagara Gorge.
Geographical Risk Factors in the Buffalo Area
Ticks thrive in the “ecotone”—the transition zone where wooded areas meet open lawns. In Western New York, certain landscapes present higher risks:
Wooded Suburban Lots: Properties in Amherst, Clarence, and Orchard Park that border woods or ravines.
Tall Grass and Leaf Litter: Ticks do not jump or fly; they “quest” by clinging to tall grass or leaves, waiting for a host to brush by.
Wildlife Corridors: Areas with high deer and rodent populations (the primary hosts for ticks) see higher concentrations of infected ticks.
