Emerson Borough, NJ

Nymphs are questing, the highest-risk stage for people. Nymphal deer ticks peak in late spring and summer. They're the size of a poppy seed, easy to miss, and cause most Lyme transmission.

Emerson Borough is 88% natural land cover (75% forest, plus open and brushy areas) across its 2.23 sq mi, home to about 7,251 people. That makes it the 26th-most wooded of the 70 towns in Bergen County. Deer ticks live in wooded areas, along trail edges, and in tall grass — the more of that a town has, the more places ticks can quest.

Bergen County reports about 47 Lyme cases per 100,000 people a year, the 189th-highest of 210 Northeast counties. That county-level disease pressure, combined with Emerson Borough's local habitat, sets how high its daily score can climb when the weather and season allow.

Yes. Nymphs are questing, the highest-risk stage for people. In Emerson Borough, today's risk reads moderate (40/100). Ticks are active. Use repellent, stick to trails, and do a tick check when you come inside.