Shapiro Administration Provides Tips, Best Practices for Preventing Lyme Disease and Tick Bites

Officials encouraged visitors to Pennsylvania's state parks and forests to take simple precautions to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease while enjoying outdoor recreation this summer.

To help residents plan outdoor activities safely, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) maintains an online dashboard showing where ticks are prevalent so people can take appropriate precautions.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) manages the Commonwealth's 2.2 million acres of state forestlands and 125 state parks, which are free and open to the public every day.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Health (DOH), and Environmental Protection (DEP) visited Samuel S. Lewis State Park in York County to highlight the importance of preventing tick bites and Lyme disease while enjoying the Commonwealth's parks, forests, and outdoor recreation opportunities this summer.

"Whether you're exploring one of Pennsylvania's 125 state parks, hiking in our 2.2 million acres of state forestlands, or relaxing in one of the more than 6,500 local parks right in your own community, it's essential to understand the risks and be prepared throughout the year," said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. "Taking proper steps to reduce the chances of being bitten is key, as ticks are found in both urban and rural settings - typically in shrubs, weeds, leaf litter, tall grasses, and anywhere there is foliage."