If you feel the need to shake out your jeans and thoroughly inspect your skin when you get home, you probably live in an area where ticks are found. People have good reason to fear them: these little blood-sucking arachnids can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and more.
The United States is home to nearly 100 species of ticks, but not all pose a threat. Some species are not interested in humans at all; others never showed signs of disease transmission. It is essential to understand the areas of the country where potentially dangerous ticks reside. Fortunately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled an assortment of maps showing where some of the most important tick species live.
The American dog tick can be found anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains (and in a few select areas of the West). Adult females are most likely to bite humans; they are most active in spring and summer. It would be wise to seek medical attention if you think you have been bitten, as this species is known to transmit tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
These East Coast ticks are known to carry many devastating diseases, including Lyme disease, hard tick-borne relapsing fever, and anaplasmosis. If that wasn’t enough, perhaps the most unfortunate attribute of these ticks is their resilience. Blacklegged ticks, also commonly called deer ticks, are found in spring, summer, And fall and have even been shown to survive winter (provided temperatures don’t get too cold). Nymphs and adult females are most likely to bite people; Because the nymphs are so small (they’re about the size of a poppy seed), trying to spot them crawling around your body requires a keen eye.
The western blacklegged tick is found on the Pacific coast, particularly in areas of northern California. Like the blacklegged ticks discovered in the East, this species also spreads diseases like anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and hard tick relapsing fever.
Meat lovers beware: these aggressive ticks are known to cause some people who have been bitten by them to develop an allergy to red meat. Lone Star ticks can transmit a variety of viruses, including Bourbon virus, Heartland virus, and tularemia (PDF). Their saliva is also irritating and can cause a rash.
These widespread ticks have been spotted across the United States and beyond. Although they are known to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, they generally do not attack humans (although they will still bite people). As their name suggests, dogs are their favorite host. To ensure the safety of your pups and human family members, it is important to pay attention to how to protect your pets from ticks.
If you live along the coast or in the lowlands, you will probably never encounter the Rocky Mountain wood tick. That’s because this particular species only inhabits areas at least 4,000 feet above sea level. Watch out for them when visiting the Rocky Mountain States or southwest Canada, as these ticks are known to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and Colorado tick fever. A neurotoxin in their saliva has also been shown to cause a rare but serious (and sometimes even fatal) neurological complication called tick paralysis, in both humans and animals.
This species is found primarily around the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast. These ticks are less common than others on this list, but they shouldn’t be overlooked: They are known to spread a form of spotted fever called Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis. The Gulf Coast tick depends on three different hosts throughout its life cycle, giving them many opportunities to transmit pathogens: nymphs and larvae prefer small mammals and birds, while Larger adults gravitate toward livestock and deer.
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