Wisconsin Tick Identification

In Wisconsin, there are two common types of ticks -- the wood tick and the deer tick. Because the deer tick sometimes carries Lyme disease, it is important to differentiate between the two.

Deer Tick

• The deer tick, also known as a bear tick or a blacklegged tick, is much smaller than the wood tick. Adults are about 1/8 inch long and reddish-brown in color. They live in the woods and are common along trails in Wisconsin. Deer ticks crawl, rather than jump, so are most likely to come into contact with humans as they brush against low-lying vegetation.

Wood Tick

• Wood ticks are a type of hard tick. Male wood ticks have mottled gray backs. Females have gray coloration behind their heads. They are found in both grassy and wooded areas.

Illnesses

• Both wood ticks and deer ticks can occasionally cause illness in their hosts. The deer tick can sometimes carry Lyme disease, which can cause a rash, fever, tiredness, and flu-like symptoms. Wood ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a rare but sometimes serious illness that causes a rash and severe flu-like symptoms.