Outdoor Tick Exposure Index

The states where tick awareness matters most outdoors

Outforia analyzed tick-borne disease rates, forest coverage, deer density, and outdoor recreation pressure to compare broad tick exposure indicators across all 50 states.

Key findings

Maine leads the index

Maine ranks first, driven by the highest reported tick-borne disease rate in the dataset and the largest share of forested land.

The Northeast dominates

Seven of the top ten states are in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic, reflecting the region’s long-running tick-borne disease burden.

Ticks vary locally

Lower-scoring states can still have ticks. Habitat, season, weather, and public health guidance still matter.

Mapped: Outdoor Tick Exposure Index by state

Use the tile map to compare scores, rankings, and the underlying factors behind each state.

Outdoor Tick Exposure Index
Lower scoreHigher score

The 10 states with the highest exposure scores

How to reduce tick exposure outdoors

Simple preparation before and after time outside can help reduce tick exposure.

Use repellentApply an EPA-registered insect repellent, following label instructions.
Dress for brushy areasWear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes when conditions call for it.
Stay centeredWhen hiking, avoid brushing against tall grass, leaf litter, and dense vegetation.
Check after activityInspect yourself, children, pets, and gear after spending time outdoors.
Shower when possibleShowering soon after outdoor activity can help with tick checks and removal.
Remove ticks carefullyUse fine-tipped tweezers to remove attached ticks promptly.
Watch symptomsSeek medical advice if you develop symptoms after a tick bite.
Check local guidanceUse state and county public health advice for local conditions.

Methodology and limitations

The index combines public health, habitat, wildlife, and recreation indicators into a comparative state-level score.

CDC tick-borne disease rate per million residents60%
Forested land area15%
Deer per square mile15%
NPS visits per 100 forested square miles10%
Disease dataCDC tick-borne disease cases, 2019 to 2022, converted to a rate per million residents.
Forest dataUSDA Forest Service FIA forested land figures from the 2022 Forest Resources report.
Deer dataState deer population estimates compiled from National Deer Association and wildlife data aggregators, then divided by state land area.
Outdoor visitation2024 NPS state-level visit totals, normalized by forested square miles as a broad recreation-pressure proxy.

Full Outdoor Tick Exposure Index rankings

Search and sort the full dataset to compare the overall score and each underlying factor.

Click any column heading to sort.
RankStateIndex scoreTick-borne disease rateForested landDeer per sq miNPS visits per 100 forested sq miTier

Sources: CDC, USDA Forest Service FIA, National Deer Association Annual Deer Report, Wildlife Informer, and NPS Visitor Use Statistics. Disease data covers 2019 to 2022, NPS visits are 2024, and forest data is from the USDA Forest Service 2022 report.