They feed in late summer, near ground level, on mice, shrews, chipmunks, voles, and other small animals. Larvae can pick up the disease from an infected animal. Nymphs - are the size of a poppy seed. They are biege, sometimes appearing transparent with a dark head. Adults - are the size of a sesame seed.
Adults are active all winter long, as long as temperatures are above freezing.
Adults feed primarily on deer, but will also attack cattle, horses, dogs, etc. Human beings are accidental hosts. All stages have distinctive features that separate tick species. Deer ticks do not have festoons. Other common ticks do have festoons.