Tick

Natural Habitat

Woodlands, tall grasses, and leaf litter; frequently found attached to host animals or humans in outdoor areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles.

Behavior Patterns

Ticks use a behavior called 'questing' where they climb to the tip of a blade of grass or leaf and wait with legs outstretched to latch onto a passing host. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

Risks & Benefits

Significant health risks as vectors for diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Anaplasmosis. They offer little benefit to ecosystems other than serving as a food source for some bird species.

Identified on: 1/8/2026