Why Every Long Island Family Should Be Paying Attention to This Summer's Tick and Mosquito Headlines
Why Every Long Island Family Should Be Paying Attention to This Summer's Tick and Mosquito Headlines
If it feels like every week brings another story about mosquitoes, ticks, or a newly emerging disease on Long Island, unfortunately, you're not imagining it.
One headline talks about Alpha-gal syndrome, while another about the first confirmed case of Bourbon virus following a tick bite on Long Island. Then there’s the ongoing concern over West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Zika, and the many other illnesses that mosquitoes and ticks can carry. Recent information from Stony Brook Medicine's Tick-borne Disease Symposium highlighted that Long Island continues to be one of the country's most active regions for tick-related illnesses and emerging diseases.
The good news is this: awareness doesn't have to become worry. While we can never eliminate every mosquito or tick from the environment, there are practical steps every Long Island family can take to significantly reduce their risk and enjoy the outdoors with greater peace of mind.
Why This Summer's Tick and Mosquito Headlines Feel Different on Long Island
For years, Lyme disease dominated the conversation around ticks on Long Island. Today, the conversation has grown outside of just Lyme disease.
Health experts are now monitoring Alpha-gal syndrome, a condition linked primarily to bites from the Lone Star tick that can trigger an allergy to red meat in some people. A new and first confirmed case of an untreatable, Bourbon virus was traced to a Long Island resident who had been working outdoors in Suffolk County. While Bourbon virus remains extremely rare, its appearance reminds us that our local landscape continues to change and that the Long Island ecosystem can be a perfect breeding ground for many disease carrying pests.
Mosquitoes continue to present concerns as well. Every summer, New York health officials monitor mosquito populations for West Nile virus, and with warmer seasons lately, mosquito activity can extend well into the fall. We have cases of West Nile and Zika both traced to Long Island, with Zika's presence potentially tied to the recent uptick in global travel post COVID.
For families on Long Island, the takeaway isn't to panic. It's simply to stay informed and be best prepared in what you can control.
Many Tick and Mosquito Bites Are Preventable
One of the biggest misconceptions is that there's nothing homeowners can do. When in reality, your property & upkeep play a significant role in whether mosquitoes and ticks find a comfortable place to live.
A few simple habits can make a noticeable difference:
- Eliminate standing water from buckets, planters, toys, birdbaths, and clogged gutters where mosquitoes can breed
- Keep lawns mowed and trim overgrown shrubs and grasses where ticks like to wait to latch on
- Remove debris and brush piles, especially around wooded edges
- Create a separation between wooded areas and play spaces using mulch or stone borders
- Keep outdoor furniture clean and free of standing water
- Encourage children & pets to not wander into tall vegetation whenever possible, or be protected with the right clothing
None of these steps will eliminate every mosquito or tick, but when done together can reduce your potential exposure and make your property far less inviting.
Protecting Kids During Outdoor Play. And Don’t Forget Your Pets
Children naturally spend more time close to the ground, while dogs often become the first family member to encounter ticks. They love exploring gardens, wooded edges, and rolling around in grassy areas where ticks often wait.
After spending time outside or going for walks, it's a good habit to:
- Check behind the ears
- Check around the hairline
- Look behind the knees & under arms
- Check around tails & bellies
- Inspect around the waistband and collars
- Shower after extended outdoor play, hiking, or sports
The earlier a tick is found, the better. These quick checks only take a few minutes but can become one of the most important parts of your family's outdoor routine.
Still continue using veterinarian-recommended flea and tick prevention throughout the season. Even well-maintained backyards can harbor ticks if wildlife are in the area.
Your Backyard Shouldn't Be the Highest Risk Area For Mosquito & Tick Bites
The reality is, we can't control every hiking trail, soccer field, or nature preserve we visit. Although we may want to. So we must focus on what we can control. For many Long Island homeowners, that's the backyard.
Our home & our yard is where families spend most of their time. It's where birthday parties happen. It's where kids play after school. It's where dogs run every morning & afternoon. And it's where friends gather on warm summer evenings.
Your backyard should be where you feel most comfortable. Not where you're constantly worried about mosquitoes or checking everyone for ticks after dinner because of the diseases they can carry.
Creating an Outdoor Space You Can Enjoy Again
For many homeowners, good property maintenance and personal upkeep go a long way. But depending on your yard, nearby woods, landscaping, standing water, or local mosquito pressure, they still may not be enough.
That's where professional mosquito and tick control can make a meaningful difference.
At MosquitoNix Long Island, our goal has never been simply to reduce mosquitoes.
It's to help families enjoy the outdoor spaces they've worked so hard to create.
Whether it's our QuickNix botanical mosquito and tick fogging treatments or our permanently installed automated misting systems, our approach is designed to fit naturally into your outdoor lifestyle while using a biodegradable & organic solution that is 25(b) exempt. It contains no pyrethroids, and requires no downtime for your family or pets after application.
Because when your backyard feels comfortable again, you use it more often. You host more dinners. Your children stay outside longer. Your dog gets to enjoy the yard alongside the family.
And those are the moments that matter most.
Awareness Doesn't Mean Fear
Long Island is one of the most beautiful places to spend time outdoors & has so many wonderful things to offer its residents.
From backyard barbecues and pool days to evenings around the fire pit. These are the moments that define summer in almost every Long Island household.
The recent headlines serve as an important reminder that mosquitoes and ticks deserve our attention, but they shouldn't take away our enjoyment of the outdoors.
With a little awareness, a few smart habits, and the right, targeted protection at your home, you can continue making memories outside with confidence & peace of mind.
Further Reading
If you'd like to learn more about recent research and news surrounding tick and mosquito-borne diseases, we have included them below:
- Stony Brook Medicine: Study on New York's First Confirmed Bourbon Virus Case
- Stony Brook Medicine: Symposium on Tick-borne Diseases
- News 12 Long Island: Tips to Stay Safe From Ticks This Summer
- CBS New York: Long Island Man Survives Rare Bourbon Virus
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