Experts Name the Worst Outdoor Pest of 2025—and Warn of the Disease Risks It Carries Ticks won the dubious honor. Close Credit: Chalabala / Getty Images Key Points Ticks were named NPMA’s 2025 Pest of the Year due to their significant public-health impact, including rising tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome. Alpha-gal syndrome gained national attention, especially after researchers documented the first known death from the tick-triggered meat allergy, contributing to ticks dominating 2025's media and health conversations.Bed bugs were crowned the year's "buzziest pest" because of high social-media engagement and widespread concern about infestations. Bugs are an inevitable part of life, but some have proven to be peskier than others. According to a new report from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), one pest was more of a nuisance than the rest this year. As part of its annual pest awards, the organization has crowned ticks as the Pest of the Year. "Ticks may be small, but their impact on public health is massive," said Jim Fredericks, board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs for NPMA. "From alpha-gal syndrome to Lyme disease to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, these pests carry serious diseases that can affect anyone spending time outdoors. That's why we're shining a spotlight on ticks this year and reminding everyone to take prevention seriously." According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tick bite emergency room visits reached a five-year high this year, making ticks not just a nuisance but a serious public health threat. Don't Miss Your Thrift Store Finds Could Be Hiding Bed Bugs—How to Avoid Bringing Them Home 5 Natural Ways to Keep Ticks Out of Your Lawn and Garden To determine its Pest of the Year, NPMA analyzed media coverage, CDC health data, social media engagement, and web traffic to determine which pests dominated the national conversation in 2025. In particular, alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening meat allergy triggered by tick bites, has been in the headlines. Researchers recently documented the first known death from the allergy—a 47-year-old man in New Jersey who fell ill hours after eating a hamburger at a barbecue in 2024, NPR reports. Follow us to see more of our stories on Google. Follow Us On Google NMPA also crowned bed bugs as the Buzziest Pest of the Year thanks to the robust social media engagement these insects receive on the @PestWorld social channels. Online users expressed concerns about infestations in hotels, homes, and public spaces. To help consumers better understand these pests and identify them when traveling, NPMA launched Bed Bugs Exposed, a microsite and video series this summer. Explore more: News Home & Garden News