Generally, ticks attach to a person or animal near ground level. They grab onto people or animals who brush against vegetation and crawl upward.
Deer ticks feed on blood by inserting their mouth parts into the skin.
They are slow feeders. If the deer tick is infected, it must be attached for 24-48 hours before it transmits the bacteria. The tick must be attached for at least 24-48 hours to transmit the bacteria. The chance of getting Lyme disease increases the longer the tick is attached. In 1996, over 16,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.