365 Urban Species. Species #036: Deer Tick

Urban species#036: Deer tick Ixodes dammini scapularis
Location: Photographs taken at home, Brookline. Tick acquired in Olmsted Park, Boston.

Ticks aren't usually thought of as urban species. Most people may never encounter a tick while in the city. However, dog owners will find them--or the ticks will find the dog owners. Deer ticks don't feed only on deer. Their babies (or "nymphs") are parasites of white-footed mice (a species that is found in the city) as well as urban birds such as American robins, blue jays; adults feed on raccoons, opossums, and squirrels, and of course, dogs and humans. Deer ticks can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, which is very serious but treatable if caught early. Deer ticks can be distinguished from the other common urban tick, the dog tick, by size: deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed, dog ticks are twice as large.

Yes, I pulled this tick off of myself today. Ticks are active of winter days when the ground temperature is 45 degrees f, or higher.

( Image of deer tick feeding on human host, behind cut. )