The ticks prefer to live in wooded areas, low growing grassland, seashores and yards. The Deer tick has a 2 year life cycle and must feed 3 times. In the larvae stage, it is tan, the size of a pin head and feeds on small animals like the mouse where it can pick up the spirochete. During the nymph stage the tick is the size of a poppy seed, beige or partially transparent and feeds on larger animals such as cats, dogs and humans. The Lone Star tick is grey with a white dot.
Ticks are very active in the spring and early summer.