No. 008 · tick · Risk: Moderate
Blacklegged (Deer) Tick
Ixodes scapularis
In season · SeptemberNortheast / Mid-AtlanticMidwest / Plains
- Field tell
- Small, dark, teardrop body with dark legs; easy to miss in leaf litter.
- Why it matters
- Primary carrier of Lyme disease in the US.
- Season
- Nymphs peak May–July; adults active fall through spring, even on mild winter days.
TICK REMOVAL
If you find an attached tick
- Use fine-tipped tweezers, not fingers or a match.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull straight upward with steady, even pressure — don't twist or jerk.
- Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Watch the site for a rash or flu-like symptoms over the following weeks.
Not medical advice. Call 911 or Poison Control 1-800-222-1222.
Related ticks
- American Dog Tick — Mottled brown-and-white shield; active in grassy fields spring through summer.
- Lone Star Tick — Single white dot on the female's back; aggressive, will approach rather than wait.
- Rocky Mountain Wood Tick — Similar to dog tick but found at higher elevation, active in early spring.