They like to attach to the inside of dogs' ears and to human scalps, where they can become engorged to 10 times their actual size. It's an ugly sight, especially on a child's head. Walk through any woods or meadow this time of year and you will return with wood ticks. They usually hitch a ride on pants or shirts and start crawling north to the head and neck. Unlike the deer tick, they are easy to spot.
Deer ticks are smaller than a pinhead and the young are barely visible.
Scientists believe ticks usually must be attached to the host for 24 to 48 hours before they can transmit the Lyme bacteria. Experts say you should grip a tick near its head with tweezers and gently pull it out. Dorner advises against the old-timers' method of touching a lighted match to the boring tick.