In New Jersey, this tick is primarily responsible for the spread of Lyme disease. Hunterdon County continues to have one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the country, most likely due to its heavily-wooded environment and high deer population. Because of these facts, it is important that county residents be particularly aware of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, and that we learn to follow a few simple precautions to help protect ourselves and our families. The deer tick is generally found in areas where deer, mice and other animals roam, such as wooded areas. In addition, longer grass or brush, low bushes and shrubs, and moist leaf litter are common habitats.
Ticks crawl very slowly, and can travel distances only by attaching to a person, animal, or bird.
This is how a tick can move out of the woods and into gardens and backyards. In the larva and nymph stages, ticks must find hosts and take blood meals to molt to the next stages. Male adults attach but do not feed, while female adults need blood to produce eggs. Males are smaller and all black. Ticks are not born with the spirochete responsible for Lyme disease.