Totally Ticked

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, tick pressure is up — again. In some markets, the weather is creating a more attractive habitat for ticks; in others, the apparent rise in pressure may actually just be rising demand for tick control services as people become increasingly aware of the health risks associated with ticks. Either way, calls are coming in earlier and more frequently each year, and more pest management companies are treating ticks than ever before (85%), according to the 2026 PCT State of the Tick Control Market survey.

“It’s out of control,” said Matthew Garten, CEO, Select Exterminating, which serves New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts — a hotbed of tick activity. “The pressure is the highest we’ve ever seen. Our calls have easily doubled over the past three years, partly because of media exposure, but also because of health education and the weather. This past winter was so cold, and the snowpack was prevalent for so long that it encapsulated the ground, insulating the ticks.”

Warmer states are seeing a surge, too. In fast-growing Northwest Arkansas, for example, Natural State Pest & Lawn, Fayetteville, Ark., has been getting more, and earlier, tick calls for the past several years. “Compared with five years ago, the biggest difference is not just the amount of tick activity, but also how much more aware people are of ticks and the diseases they can carry,” said Michael Carter, general manager of Natural State Pest & Lawn. “Outdoor activity is a big part of life here, with people spending a lot of time hiking, biking, golfing and kayaking; ticks are on people’s radar much more than in the past. Notably, they are learning more about alpha-gal syndrome, and that has added to their concern.”

Another growing area, Tallahassee, Fla., has seen tick pressure steadily rise as new construction alters the environment. “Tallahassee is committed to protecting the natural beauty of the area — the Canopy Roads, for example — as it grows as a city, but we’re encroaching into wildlife habitats,” said Mosquito Joe General Manager Robert Frost. “A lot of properties are built right up against conservations, so deer, raccoons and field mice — all perfect hosts for ticks — come right into people’s yards. Those homeowners love looking at the animals, but then a month later, we’re getting calls that their child had three ticks on them that week. Suddenly, having wildlife in their backyard isn’t so cute anymore.”

Fear Factor

If you live in an area where people are well aware of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) or other tick-borne diseases, then you’re probably getting more calls for tick control services than ever before. Yet only 61% of pest management professionals (PMPs) believe that their customers consider ticks a threat to public health. Many more — 82% — consider them a threat to pets.

“We’re in the mountains of Tennessee, where people hunt in the woods, play in the woods and sometimes live in the woods, but surprisingly, we don’t get a lot of calls for ticks. I think it’s because people just pull them off and go on about their business. They don’t see it as that big of a deal, at least to the point of calling someone to do something about it,” said Aaron Veal, owner, Phoenix Pest Control, Maryville, Tenn.

This is worrisome because the two species Veal’s team encounters most are the American dog tick, a vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, and the lone star tick, which also carries tularemia, as well as AGS, ehrlichiosis, Heartland virus disease, southern tick- associated rash illness (STARI) and Bourbon virus — all potentially serious diseases. He said the public is well aware of these risks but generally becomes concerned only when their pets are involved.

“The crazy thing is people will ask about the safety of their dogs before they’ll ask about the safety of their kids. If their child is getting ticks on them, they just tell them to stay out of the woods. If the dog’s getting ticks, they’ll spend $1,000 cutting back the tree line,” he said.

The script seems to flip in the Northeast. Matthew Garten shared that Select Exterminating’s tick customers are primarily concerned with their families’ health and safety. “Pet owners have become accustomed to dealing with fleas and ticks on their pets; their focus now is on their families,” he said. “We’re seeing more calls from clients with young children who are concerned about the health risks. Media exposure plays a part, plus people throughout this region may have seen the effects on a friend or neighbor who has contracted Lyme or another disease. They want to go onto a tick program to make sure they’re protected.”