Do American Dog Ticks Bite? Are They Dangerous?
Short answer: the American dog tick can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease. American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Risk rating: Health risk
American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Are American dog ticks dangerous to humans?
American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
On our four-level scale, the American dog tick is rated health risk, meaning it can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease. American Dog Ticks can bite, so it is worth handling them with care.
Are they dangerous to pets?
American Dog Ticks can bite or sting curious pets that paw at them or try to eat them. Watch for swelling, drooling or limping, and call your veterinarian right away if your pet has trouble breathing or a large reaction.
Can they damage your home or garden?
American Dog Ticks don't damage homes; the concern is bites outdoors.
What to do if you find an attached tick
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure without twisting.
- Clean the bite and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Write down the date and watch for a rash, fever or aches over the next 30 days.
Call 911 right away if someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness or a racing heartbeat after a bite or sting.
American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
How to identify American dog ticks
A brown tick with ornate white-gray markings on its shield, common along trails, roadsides and grassy fields. It readily feeds on dogs and people.
- Brown body with silvery-white mottling on the shield
- Larger than a blacklegged tick
- Engorged females turn slate gray and swell up to 15 mm
| Scientific name | Dermacentor variabilis |
|---|---|
| Group | Ticks, Mites & Other Arachnids |
| Size | 3–5 mm (up to about 0.20 in) |
| Colors | Brown, White and Gray |
| Legs | 8 legs |
| Wings | No (as usually seen) |
| Where found | Lawn or grass, Woods or trails and On pets |
| Most active | Spring and Summer |
| Bites | Yes |
| Stings | No |
| Risk level | Health risk |
When you'll see American dog ticks
American Dog Ticks are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.
Typical places to check: lawn or grass, woods or trails and on pets.
About ticks, mites & other arachnids
The American dog tick is one of the ticks, mites & other arachnids. This group includes ticks, mites, scorpions and harvestmen. Like spiders, adults have eight legs and no antennae, though larval ticks and chiggers have only six. Ticks and some mites feed on blood or skin, while scorpions hunt insects and harvestmen scavenge.
Ticks move through larva, nymph and adult stages, and each stage needs a blood meal. Nymphs are tiny and active in late spring and summer, which is when many tick-borne infections happen.
How to avoid problems with American dog ticks
- Treat dogs with a veterinarian-recommended tick preventive
- Stay in the center of trails and avoid tall grass
- Check pets and people daily during spring and summer
Frequently asked questions
Do American dog ticks bite?
Yes. American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Do American dog ticks sting?
No, American dog ticks do not sting.
Are American dog ticks poisonous?
The American dog tick can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease. American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Where do American dog ticks live?
American Dog Ticks are usually found in lawns and grass, in woods and along trails and on pets, and are most active in spring and summer.