Illinois, 9 Other States With Heaviest Tick Activity In 10 Years

A coworker said this to me the other day: "Every time I'm reading some news lately, there's always something about ticks! What's going on?"

The reason is that tick season arrived earlier and is hitting harder across Illinois, Wisconsin, and much of the Midwest, and new public health data suggests we may be in one of the most active years in nearly a decade.

Emergency room visits for tick bites have surged sharply this spring, with CDC tracking showing Midwest states among the regions seeing the fastest early-season increases in 2026.

In Illinois and Wisconsin, health officials are reporting a familiar but increasingly intense pattern of ticks becoming active sooner in the year, spreading into more suburban and backyard environments, and carrying a wider range of pathogens than in the past. Warmer winters and earlier spring warming are extending the window when ticks can feed and reproduce, which in turn increases the chances of human contact during outdoor activities like gardening, hiking, yardwork, and even walking pets.

Why Is The Midwest So Popular With Ticks?

The Midwest has long been a hotspot for deer ticks (blacklegged ticks), which can transmit Lyme disease, but researchers and state epidemiologists are also watching for other illnesses such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. Illinois health experts note that tick-borne disease patterns are not just increasing in volume, they’re also evolving, with new pathogens and shifting geographic ranges appearing in surveillance data.

CDC data shows that emergency department visits for tick bites across much of the country are now at their highest levels for this time of year since 2017, with the Midwest ranking near the top behind the Northeast. That trend has raised concern that 2026 could continue to see elevated tick activity through the peak summer months.

Here's How To Help Protect Yourself

Experts emphasize that most tick-borne illnesses are preventable with simple precautions like using repellents containing DEET or permethrin, wearing long sleeves and light-colored clothing, and performing thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors. Prompt removal of attached ticks (ideally within 24 hours) remains one of the most effective ways to reduce infection risk.

For Illinois and Wisconsin residents, the message this season is that tick activity isn’t just rising, it’s starting earlier, lasting longer, and demanding more attention than ever.