American Dog Tick

Tall grass, low-lying brush, and wooded areas near paths and trails

They are hematophagous parasites that feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, including humans and pets

They use a behavior called questing, where they climb to the tips of vegetation and wait for a host to pass by. Their life cycle includes egg, larva, nymph, and adult stages over two years

Significant health risk as they can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They can also cause tick paralysis in hosts. They provide no significant ecosystem benefits and are considered a pest