Scientists predict a record year for ticks on Long Island and the rest of the Northeast, and they are attributing the surge to a confluence of phenomena: climate, acorns and mice.

New York has the highest number of confirmed Lyme disease cases nationwide, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has cataloged more than 95,000 Lyme infections in the state since 1986. Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne infection nationwide, and Suffolk County has been a hot zone of the ailment for decades.

PROTECTION FROM TICKS:
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.

When hiking, stay on center trails and wear socks, long sleeves and long pants.

Use bug repellents with 20 percent to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothes to add an extra measure of protection.

Examine yourself carefully: Ticks are tiny and can be difficult to see. A nymph, or baby tick, is about the size of a poppy seed.

Know where to look: Ticks prefer warm parts of the body, such as the armpits, in the navel, behind the ears or knees, in the groin or on the head, burrowed under layers of hair.

If you find a tick, carefully remove it with tweezers. The powerful, claw-like mouth parts allows it to embed in the skin, and you want to be sure to remove the head of the tick.

Immediately wash all clothes that have been worn outside, especially after hiking or playing in brushy areas. Put clothes in a dryer at highest temperature because ticks can survive washing machine cycles.

Check any gear that you may have had outside because ticks can hitch a ride on backpacks, toys and other outdoor equipment.

Always check pets thoroughly. Ticks burrow into an animal’s fur and are a noteworthy cause of infections in dogs.

https://www.cdc.gov/features/lymedisease/index.html

http://tickcontrol.com/services/tick-identification/