Ticks typically live outdoors in woody or grassy areas and are found throughout the United States. The regions with the highest numbers of tick-borne diseases are in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeastern states. Ticks are mostly hitchhikers: They climb aboard an animal or human that brushes up against them in tall grass or woodland areas. Once attached to a human or pet, most ticks feed, then push away from their meal to molt or lay eggs in ground soil. However, pets and humans may unknowingly carry ticks inside on their fur, clothing and exposed skin.