Dog Tick

Grassy areas, low-lying brush, and wooded paths, common in both rural and suburban environments.

Obligate blood-feeders; they consume the blood of mammals including dogs, deer, and humans.

They exhibit 'questing' by climbing to the tips of vegetation and extending their front legs to latch onto passing hosts. They have a three-host life cycle (larva, nymph, adult).

High risk as a vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They can also cause tick paralysis in pets and humans. They provide no significant benefits to the ecosystem besides serving as food for some birds and reptiles.