Black-legged Tick (Deer Tick)

Natural Habitat

Wooded and brushy areas with high humidity, often found in leaf litter or on the tips of grasses and shrubs.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders. They feed on a variety of hosts including small mammals (like white-footed mice), birds, deer, and humans.

Behavior Patterns

They undergo a complex life cycle (larva, nymph, adult) requiring a blood meal at each stage. They use 'questing' by climbing vegetation and waving their front legs to latch onto passing hosts.

Risks & Benefits

A major public health risk as they are the primary vector for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis in North America. They serve as a food source for some birds and reptiles but are generally considered a parasitic pest.

Identified on: 5/16/2026