Engorged Dog Tick / Sheep Tick

Grassy fields, woodlands, leaf litter, and urban parks; often found attached to host animals such as dogs, wildlife, or humans.

Obligate hematophage; feeds exclusively on the blood of vertebrate hosts (mammals, birds, reptiles).

Engorged ticks detach from their hosts after a blood meal lasting several days. They drop to the ground to molt into the next life stage or, if adult females, lay thousands of eggs before dying. They do not jump or fly.

Risks: Significant vectors of pathogens causing serious diseases including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Benefits: Minimal ecosystem benefits, serving primarily as a minor food source for certain birds, reptiles, and amphibians.