Another Tick to Avoid - Alpha-gal Syndrome

Lone Star tick - CDC

Going for a hike, a walk in the woods, or just into your backyard this week? Be aware of yet another tick that might ruin your wandering. 

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction triggered by a tick bite that makes people allergic to red meat and other mammalian products. Unlike most food allergies that manifest immediately, AGS is uniquely dangerous because its symptoms typically show up 3 to 8 hours after eating.

The Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the primary culprit in the United States. Ticks carry a sugar molecule called alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) in their saliva. When the tick bites a human, it transfers this sugar into the bloodstream. The immune system flags it as a foreign threat and creates specific IgE antibodies to fight it. Later, when the person consumes mammalian products containing alpha-gal, the body triggers an allergic attack.

Yes, the Lone Star tick exists in New Jersey, and its population is actively expanding across the state. [It was historically confined to the southern regions and coastal plains of New Jersey—such as Monmouth, Ocean, and Cape May counties—but warmer winters and an increasing deer population have pushed their range much further north. They are now regularly detected in northern and central counties, including Hunterdon, Somerset, Bergen, and Passaic.

The presence of this tick in New Jersey is getting serious public health focus. In late 2025, researchers from the University of Virginia documented that a 47-year-old New Jersey man became the first recorded fatality in the United States from alpha-gal syndrome after suffering severe anaphylaxis from eating red meat following a camping trip. 

In the central and southern parts of the state, lone star ticks have become so prevalent that they actually outnumber local blacklegged (deer) ticks. Unlike regular ticks that wait passively for a host to pass by, lone star ticks actively pursue hosts by sensing vibrations and carbon dioxide. 

They are highly active in New Jersey from March through October, thriving in forests, tall grass, brush piles, and suburban backyards.

The New Jersey Department of Health and municipal health departments actively issue warnings urging residents to take heavy precautions in wooded or high-grass areas. To protect yourself, use EPA-registered repellents, wear long clothing pre-treated with permethrin, and perform thorough tick checks immediately after coming indoors.

Symptoms range from mild discomfort to medical emergencies. They include: [1] Skin Reactions: Hives, severe itching, swelling, or flushing. Digestive Issues: Severe stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and heartburn. Respiratory Issues: Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Anaphylaxis: A severe drop in blood pressure and closed airways requiring emergency medical care. 

Those diagnosed with AGS must strictly avoid food derived from mammals: Beef, pork, lamb, venison, rabbit, and goat. Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), gelatin, lard, and sometimes medications or capsules made with mammalian ingredients. 

Safe Alternatives: Poultry (chicken, turkey), fish, and shellfish do not contain alpha-gal and are completely safe to eat. 

Doctors diagnose AGS by taking a detailed history of your symptoms and performing a blood test to check for alpha-gal-specific IgE antibodies. There is no cure. Treatment centers entirely on lifestyle management, avoiding trigger foods, and carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) for accidental exposures. 

The allergy can sometimes decline or disappear over several years, provided you do not get bitten by any more ticks. 

AGS should be managed under the care of an allergist or other healthcare provider. 

King Tides Along the Jersey Shore

Flooding in Ocean City via njconservation.org/help-document-sunny-day-flooding

You may be hearing the term "king tides" recently on the news, connected to weather conditions. What are "king tides?" A king tide is a non-scientific term for the highest predicted high tide of the year at a coastal location. 

New Jersey is experiencing a major king tide window right now, and more are expected in the near future. New Jersey is currently in the middle of a predicted king tide window spanning October 27 to 28, 2026. Triggered by yesterday’s full moon converging with the Moon's closest approach to Earth, 8 out of 9 NOAA monitoring stations across the state are seeing their highest astronomically predicted tides.

What Causes King Tides?
Celestial alignment plays a role. These tides happen when the orbits and alignments of the Earth, Moon, and Sun combine to create maximum gravitational pull. They occur when the Moon is closest to Earth (called perigee) during a New or Full Moon.

Depending on the region, they often happen a few times a year during specific seasons, such as fall and winter. 

One common effect is called "sunny day flooding." The weather is fine, but these tides can push seawater over seawalls and up through storm drains onto streets even on clear, cloudless days with no storms. They also cause very low tides at alternate times of the day, which can expose marine life, sandbars, or shallow channels.

The absolute highest tide of this specific New Jersey window is occurring at Wildwood Crest, reaching an estimated 6.0 feet—which sits a notable 1.1 feet above normal high water levels (MHHW).

While high pressure is keeping skies mostly dry, the sheer gravitational force of this alignment is causing "sunny day" minor coastal flooding. Tidal waters are spilling onto the most vulnerable low-lying roads and bayside communities along the Jersey Shore during morning high tide cycles

King tides are called "king" because they represent the highest, most dominant natural high tides of the year. Just as a king sits at the top of a hierarchy, these tides tower above normal daily and monthly high tides, creating the largest tidal range (highest highs and lowest lows). 

NOAA's National Ocean Service would refer to them as perigean spring tides. Besides when the Moon is at perigee, they often occur during specific times of the year when the Earth is also closest to the Sun (perihelion) or when weather and warm water expansion add extra height.

What El Niño Could Mean for New Jersey This Winter

If you've been following weather news, you've probably heard about El Niño. But what exactly is it, and why does something happening thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean matter to people in New Jersey?

In simple terms, El Niño is a natural climate pattern that occurs when surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean become unusually warm. That extra warmth releases heat and moisture into the atmosphere, which can alter weather patterns across much of the globe. One of the main ways it does this is by shifting the jet stream, the fast-moving river of air high in the atmosphere that helps steer storms across North America. Because the jet stream influences where storms develop and travel, El Niño can have noticeable effects on winter weather in the eastern United States, including New Jersey.

While no two El Niño events are exactly alike, the pattern often increases the chances of a more active storm track along parts of the East Coast during the cooler months. For a state like New Jersey, that matters. With more than 130 miles of Atlantic coastline, extensive bays and estuaries, and densely populated coastal communities, New Jersey is especially vulnerable to flooding. 

Many residents - especially those away from the coast - think of flooding as something that happens only during hurricanes or major nor'easters, but increasingly, that's not the case. Even routine high tides can flood roads, neighborhoods, and businesses. As sea levels continue to rise, water needs less help from storms to reach places that once remained dry. A strong onshore wind, an unusually high tide, or a modest coastal storm can now produce impacts that would have been less likely decades ago.

El Niño itself is a natural phenomenon. However, it is occurring against the backdrop of a warming climate and rising sea levels. That means that El Niño may enhance the likelihood of stormy periods and persistent onshore winds, while higher sea levels mean that even minor coastal flooding events can become more disruptive. Communities along the Jersey Shore, as well as areas bordering tidal rivers and bays, are already experiencing more frequent nuisance flooding. When higher tides coincide with storms or strong winds, the impacts can be amplified.

Some of New Jersey's best flood protection already exists in nature in the form of wetlands, marshes, forests, and other undeveloped landscapes that help absorb and slow floodwaters. Wetlands act like giant natural sponges, temporarily storing water during heavy rainfall and coastal flooding before gradually releasing it back into the environment.

Protecting upland forests and open spaces is equally important. When land is covered by pavement, rooftops, and parking lots, rainfall cannot soak into the ground. Instead, it runs quickly into streams, rivers, and storm drains, increasing flood risks downstream. Investments in land conservation, wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and strategic flood-resilience programs can help communities adapt to both today's flood risks and tomorrow's changing climate.

So, what can New Jersey expect in the coming months? A seasonal forecast can't predict exactly what will happen on a particular day or month or whether any specific storm will strike New Jersey, but El Niño is expected to remain a significant influence through the winter months. That means greater potential for an active storm pattern during the cool season. There will also be an elevated risk of coastal flooding, particularly during periods of strong onshore winds and high tides. There will be increased vulnerability in low-lying coastal and tidal communities and the possibility that even moderate storms could produce outsized flooding impacts.

Foxy New Jersey

Red fox - photo by Gary Lehman www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/

It is not at all uncommon for you to see a fox in a rural or suburban setting, but foxes in New Jersey are still rare enough to give most of us a surprise and thrill.

It is not positively known if the red fox (Vulpe s vulpes) was native to New Jersey. If the species was native, the numbers were few. It is thought that some or all of this species may have been introduced by colonists from England for the purpose of hunting with horses and hounds.

English foxes were introduced to the Colonies in Virginia and the Long Island area and eventually crossed into mainland New York State and into New Jersey. The native gray fox was not seen as "sporting" enough, as it treed rather than ran or ran in a much smaller area than the red fox.

In New Jersey, there are two species you might see. The red fox and the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). The gray fox is known to be native to the state.

Both species are present throughout the state and are also classified as game species with hunting and trapping seasons.

For both species, male foxes are called "dogs" and females are known as "vixens".

Generally speaking, neither species pose a threat to people, but like all wildlife species should never be approached or fed. Fox are well known for their threat to small domestic animals, and are well-deserving of their reputation for intelligence. They are highly adaptable and can be found living in close proximity to people and in developed areas.

The pointed ears, slender muzzle, and slanted eyes, bushy and unusually long tail, coupled with its small dog size and typical orange-red coloration, make the red fox instantly recognizable to most observers.

The exact breeding period for red foxes is January-February in the central regions, which includes New Jersey. Litter size may vary from one to as many as fourteen pups, with an average of about five. The family group remains together until the autumn after the birth, when the young will disperse. Sexual maturity is reached by 10 months for both male and female young.

Red foxes can weigh from about 8 to 15 pounds, but in New Jersey will generally weigh about 12 to 13 pounds for a large, adult male. Males average about 2 pounds heavier than females. Generally, adult foxes measure 39 to 43 inches from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. In their first autumn, juveniles are as large as adults.

Other than when raising young and during breeding season, the red fox is a solitary animal and does not form a pack like wolves.

Family groups and/or individuals use a main earthen den in conjunction with other emergency burrows within their home range. Foxes often take over and utilize dens of other animals, such as woodchucks. The dens may be enlarged during the winter and prior to birth and rearing of the young. Several generations of foxes will often use the same den site.

Red foxes are strictly terrestrial and rarely enter water. Red foxes most often hunt and move about during evening, nighttime, and early morning hours.

Being a nonspecific predator, the red fox utilizes a variety of food types and prey. It is also a very efficient scavenger, and garbage and carrion can be important to the fox's diet. Throughout much of the year, however, meadow voles are the major prey, making up about one half of the red fox's diet. Other rodents are also eaten whenever available.

In northeastern North America, depending on season and location, woodchucks, eastern cottontails (and snowshoe hares where they are present) may also be preferred. Gamebirds such as bobwhite, ring-necked pheasants, and ruffed grouse are seasonally utilized as well as any ground-nesting birds and/or their eggs and young during spring and early summer. During late summer and autumn, fruits, berries, and insects may be eaten.

The Gray Fox is common in New Jersey as well as many parts of the United States where deciduous woodlands provide habitat. But it is a seldom-seen, secretive carnivore.

Habitats for gray fox include wooded, brushy, and rocky areas. Although they are occasionally seen in old fields and farm country, they do not prefer agricultural habitats, unlike the red fox.

Gray Fox

Like most foxes, gray foxes resemble small, slightly built dogs with bushy tails. The general coloration of a gray fox is a strikingly beautiful grizzled gray that appears on the face, sides, and tail. Portions of the legs and lower sides, as well as large areas of the neck, ears, and bottom portion of the tail, are a rusty, reddish color with white areas on the chin, belly, and insides of the legs.

Adult gray foxes weigh from about 6.5 to 15 pounds, though a large male will weigh somewhere around 11 to 12 pounds, and males will be slightly larger than females.

Gray foxes have a capability unique for a member of the dog family — their ability to climb trees. Their strong, hooked claws allow them to scramble up trees to avoid predators and to obtain fruit. They descend primarily by jumping from branch to branch. Gray foxes are nocturnal or crepuscular and they usually remain denned during the day in hollow trees, stumps or old woodchuck burrows.

The gray fox is generally a solitary hunter, but it may hunt as a pair, usually with a mate or offspring. They eat a wide variety of food types. The most important food source for the gray fox may be the cottontail but voles, field mice, shrews, and birds are readily eaten. The gray fox generally supplements its diet with whatever fruits are in season, generally utilizing more vegetable matter than the red fox.

Foxes will prey on small livestock such as ducks, chickens, rabbits, and young lambs, but generally do not bother larger livestock. Cats may also be preyed on. Foxes often carry their prey to a secluded area or their den where it is eaten by the adults and young.

Human presence is often a deterrent to foxes. Foxes that travel into residential yards should be harassed or scared with loud noises to prevent them from becoming habituated. Foxes, especially red foxes, commonly live in close association with human residences and communities. They frequently inhabit yards, parks, and golf courses, especially areas that adjoin suitable, undeveloped habitat. Healthy foxes pose virtually no danger to humans. Foxes can grow accustomed to human activity but are seldom aggressive toward people. Expanding housing development, particularly in historically rural areas, increases the chances of interactions between humans and foxes, as well as other wildlife.