Ticks found in urban parks and green spaces globally

A global review published in 2025 indicates that ticks are not limited to rural environments but are increasingly found in urban recreational spaces, including city parks, playgrounds, and zoos. These urban green spaces provide necessary humidity, vegetation, and animal hosts—such as rodents, birds, and deer—that allow various tick species to thrive.

In the United States, tick-borne diseases are on the rise. Experts highlight the importance of distinguishing between species, such as the deer tick (blacklegged tick) and the wood tick. Deer ticks are notably small, often requiring magnification to identify, and are characterized by a red-orange body and a black scutum. Because vaccines and treatments for many tick-borne illnesses remain limited, understanding habitat risks and species identification is critical for prevention.