Your snappy message. The American dog tick is the most common in this area and can vary in size from a dried pea to almost a marble when engorged with blood. They are usually brown in color when small but as they feed and become full of blood, they actually lighten in color to light tan or gray as their skin stretches.
Deer ticks are very small and hard to visualize.
They are about the size of a pinhead and usually brown or black in color. If you are going to be outdoors, especially in wooded, shrubbed, or grassy areas where ticks are common, it is best to wear long sleeved shirts, a cap and pants with the cuffs tucked into boots. Use caution though, as excessive use of DEET on the skin can cause absorption of this chemical and adverse symptoms. At the end of the day it is a good idea to take a shower, thoroughly inspecting your clothing, body and hair for any ticks that may have become attached. Treatment Remove with a tweezers and pull gently with steady pressure.