Ticks Ticks are the largest of all mites. The adult tick has eight legs as compared to six of an insect.
Ticks can feed on a variety of animals including birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.
Tick encounters have been increasing recently due to more people getting out and enjoying nature, more landscaping favorable to tick habitat being incorporated into public areas, and the influx and spread of the deer tick. Because ticks are efficient feeders and tenacious once attached, there is potential for transmitting disease. Fortunately, Maine is spared from most of the tick borne diseases. The seed or larval ticks will attach to small animals and be dispersed by them. Nymphs will climb up higher plants to latch onto larger hosts.