American Dog Tick

Found in areas with high grass and low-lying brush, particularly along paths and wooded edges.

Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, including humans, dogs, and wildlife.

They exhibit 'questing' behavior, where they climb vegetation and hold their front legs out to grab onto passing hosts. They have a three-host life cycle (larva, nymph, adult).

They are a vector for several diseases, most notably Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They can also cause tick paralysis in both pets and humans.