More Than 20% of Americans 'Very Worried' About Ticks, Survey Finds

BRUNSWICK, Maine — According to a recent survey by Modern Pest Services, more than 20% of respondents are “very worried” about ticks and 47% said mosquitoes prevent them from enjoying their yards.

In May, Modern Pest Services surveyed 1,004 Americans about their experience with summer pests. Ages ranged from 18 to 75 with an average age of 39. Among respondents, 49% were male, 49% were female and 2% were nonbinary or preferred not to say.

Modern Pest Services

According to the survey, 21% of Americans are “very worried” about ticks this summer, while another 45% are “somewhat worried.” The ticks people fear most are deer ticks at 40%, lone star ticks at 12% and Rocky Mountain wood ticks at 8%. 

• Deer tick: Found throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest, deer ticks are best known for spreading Lyme disease, along with illnesses like anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
• Lone star tick: Common across the eastern and central U.S., lone star ticks are continuing to expand northward. Their bites have been linked to ehrlichiosis, tularemia and alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially serious red meat allergy.
• Rocky Mountain wood tick: Typically found in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest, these ticks are often found in shrublands and along hiking trails. They can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever and may even cause tick paralysis.

While 62% of Americans think they know how to identify different ticks, Modern Pest Services said it tested their knowledge. Only 40% correctly identified a lone star tick, 36% identified deer tick and 25% correctly identified the rocky mountain wood tick.

The company said knowledge around tick safety and prevention was also limited. According to the survey two in five Americans said they do not know how to properly remove a tick, while 52% are unfamiliar with the symptoms of tick-borne illnesses. Among parents, more than a quarter, 27%, said they never check their children for ticks, and 47% only perform checks after time spent near woods or tall grass.

Modern Pest Services survey also resulted in 47% of respondents reporting that mosquitoes prevent them from enjoying their yards.

According to the survey, this summer, 1 in 5 Americans say they plan to spend time outside every day, and 87% think about bites and stings when heading outdoors. Nearly half, 46%, said concerns about bugs have stopped them from participating in outdoor activities altogether. Modern Pest Services said that concern is understandable, as 30% report having experienced an allergic reaction to a bite or sting.

When it comes to where Americans expect to spend the most time outdoors this summer, backyards and home outdoor spaces rank highest at 49%, followed by local parks and green spaces at 21%, beaches or lakes at 12% and forests or hiking trails at 9%.

Backyard activities are also among the most popular summer plans this year. Americans said they are planning:

• Backyard gatherings or barbecues — 72%
• Hiking and trail walking — 67%
• Picnics or park outings — 67%
• Beach trips — 62%
• Gardening and yard work — 61%
• Events and festivals — 59%
• Traveling to a national or state park — 41%
• Outdoor sports — 35%
• Camping — 32%
• Boating or fishing — 29%

Modern Pest Services said for many homeowners, mosquitoes are a major obstacle to enjoying outdoor spaces. According to the survey among those with yards, 47% said mosquitoes prevent them from fully enjoying their outdoor area, and 30% have invested in professional mosquito treatments to reclaim their space.

The full study by Modern Pest Services can be found here.