Ocean Gate 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.

Ocean Gate Borough is 32% natural land cover (28% forest, plus open and brushy areas) across its 0.45 sq mi, home to about 1,991 people. That makes it the 22nd-most wooded of the 33 towns in Ocean 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.

Ocean County reports about 85 Lyme cases per 100,000 people a year, the 153rd-highest of 210 Northeast counties. That county-level disease pressure, combined with Ocean Gate 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 Ocean Gate Borough, today's risk reads low (24/100). Tick activity is low right now, but never zero. A quick check after time outdoors is still worth it.