Ticks Are Everywhere: Not Just in the Woods!

It’s as simple as picking flowers outside a store. Sitting on a park bench. Walking a brushed path to the beach. Tick exposure is possible anywhere.

Most people know how to watch for ticks in the woods or tall grass, but ticks can also appear in places you might not expect.

And now, awareness is more important than ever. Recently, New York confirmed its first human case of the rare Bourbon virus, a tick-borne illness previously only seen in other parts of the country. While cases remain extremely rare, experts say this could be a sign that tick-related risks are expanding, emphasizing the importance of staying vigilant wherever you are.

Here’s a look at some other places where ticks hide and how you can avoid them.

Surprising Places You Can Encounter Ticks

1. Outside Grocery Stores & Flower Stands

Ticks often hide in seasonal plant displays, clinging to stems and leaves. It’s possible to pick up a tick from flowers or potted plants outside a store.

●       Be mindful when brushing against plants or picking up pots.

●       Shake out or inspect flowers before bringing them inside.

●       Check everyone, including pets, after handling outdoor plants.

2. Park Benches & Picnic Areas

Ticks prefer shaded, humid spots near benches, bushes, tree lines, or piles of leaves. These areas are common places for them to wait. Deer ticks may climb onto benches, logs, or stone walls and attach themselves when someone sits down.

●       Sit in sunny spots away from trees and brush when possible.

●       Wear EPA-registered repellents when spending time outdoors.

●       Wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily.

●       Check for ticks regularly after being outdoors.

3. Beach Access Paths & Dunes

Dune grass and brush-lined beach paths are hidden tick hotspots. Coastal ticks thrive in humid, vegetated areas, so be cautious along shaded paths and in tall grasses.

●       Stay on designated walking paths.

●       Avoid brushing against vegetation.

●       Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants when possible.

●       Always perform tick checks after returning inside, even if you were “just at the beach.”

4. Sidewalk Edges & Urban Greenery

Ticks can be found in neighborhoods as well. Overgrown landscaping, piles of leaves, and brush along sidewalks can increase your risk. Suburban and urban areas with unmanaged vegetation are also likely to have many ticks.

●       Keep grass trimmed to about 3 inches.

●       Remove leaf litter and trim back bushes.

●       Create a 3-foot barrier using wood chips or gravel where lawns and wooded areas meet.

●       Be careful near fences, stone walls, and shaded edges.

5. Dog Parks & Pet Areas

Ticks follow your pets. Dog parks near woods or tall grass can be risky.

●       Check your dog after every outing: around the ears, eyelids, under the collar, under the legs, and between the paws.

●       Use year-round flea and tick prevention recommended by your vet.

●       Remove ticks right away. Many diseases take 24 to 36 hours to transmit.

●       Remember to check yourself as well. Dogs may bring ticks inside, and these ticks can crawl onto people and spread illnesses.

6. Mailboxes, Fences & Yard Edges

Even quick trips outside, such as grabbing the mail or taking out the trash, can expose you to ticks. Ticks thrive where lawns meet shaded or damp areas, such as fences and brush.

●       Keep grass short (around 3 inches).

●       Use gravel or wood chips to create dry barriers.

●       Prune plants to increase sunlight and reduce moisture.

How Ticks Attach to You

Ticks cannot jump or fly. Instead, they climb to the tops of grasses, leaves, or branches and wait for a host to pass by. They extend their front legs and latch on when a person or a pet brushes past.

Ticks attach themselves and crawl to warm, hidden areas like behind your knees, under your arms, or along your hairline. Even brief contact with plants can result in a tick bite.

Be Prepared

Ticks aren’t just a problem in the woods. From grocery store flowers to park benches, their numbers are rising, so be alert beyond hiking trails. Knowing where ticks hide and how they behave helps you reduce your risk.

To learn more about JP McHale’s Tick and Mosquito Management Program, contact us at (833) 251-4984 or email us at sales@nopests.com.