Urban Ticks Are a Thing (Yes, Even in Philadelphia)

When people think about ticks, they picture deep woods, hiking trails, and long weekends in the mountains. Not a quick loop around the block in Bella Vista or a stroll through Washington Square.

But here’s the reality. Ticks are very much in the city, and they’re not just hanging out in the Wissahickon.

Wait… ticks? In the city?

Yep. Urban ticks are showing up more and more in Philadelphia, especially in:

• Pocket parks and city green spaces

• Overgrown lots and edges of sidewalks

• Tree pits and landscaped areas

• Dog parks (yes, really)

• Any area where wildlife passes through

And urban wildlife is the key here. Squirrels, rats, stray cats, raccoons AKA trash pandas, deer (we've seen them at FDR!), fox (yep!), beavers (we have 'em in the rivers!) and migratory birds all move through the city carrying ticks with them. They don’t care if it’s a trail in the Wissahickon or a rowhome-lined block in South Philly. (We saw a groundhog a few months ago in the Italian Market. No joke.)

Does this give you the heebie-jeebies too?

The Wissahickon spike (and why it matters)

After a recent weekend, we saw posts from multiple dog owners who pulled multiple ticks off their dogs (like double digit amount of ticks) after hiking in the Wissahickon. Gross! That’s not unusual this time of year, but it’s a good reminder.

But ticks don’t stay politely in the woods. They travel. Once they’re active, they show up in surrounding neighborhoods too. So even if your dog is mostly a “city sidewalk” type, they’re not automatically in the clear.

Why this matters for city dogs

Ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. And while not every tick is infected, it only takes one.

City dogs often get overlooked when it comes to prevention because:

• They don’t “go hiking” regularly

• Walks feel short and contained

• Misunderstanding that ticks aren't active in the concrete jungle

• Urban environments feel lower risk

But the exposure is still there, just in smaller, sneakier ways.

What we recommend

We’re not here to tell you which product to use or if you should consider the Lyme vaccination (but we got our boy vaccinated. We hike and camp, a lot with him.) That’s a conversation for you and your vet. But we are here to say this clearly:

If your dog is walking in Philadelphia, they should be on tick prevention.

A few additional habits that help:

• Do a quick check after walks, especially around ears, neck, and legs

• Stay mindful in taller grass or less-maintained areas

• Be extra vigilant after park visits or trail walks

• Keep up with regular prevention, even if your dog is mostly “city-based”

The bottom line

Ticks are not just a “woods problem.” They’re a wherever-dogs-and-other-animals-go problem. And in a city like Philadelphia, where dogs are out exploring sidewalks, parks, and everything in between every single day, prevention matters more than ever.