Ticks live primarily in environments that provide moisture and access to hosts for feeding. Their habitats include:
- Wooded areas and forests : Ticks thrive in places with leaf litter, low bushes, and trees which offer protection and humidity. For example, blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) prefer moist environments like leaf litter in wooded areas
- Tall grasses and brushy areas : Some hardier ticks, such as the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), can survive in drier environments like tall grasses
- Ecotones : Transitional zones where forests meet open areas or lawns are common tick habitats because these edges provide both cover and access to hosts
- Urban green spaces and parks : Ticks can also be found in city parks, gardens, and other urban green spaces where suitable hosts (like birds, deer, or small mammals) are present
- Moist climates with adequate humidity : Ticks require a certain level of moisture to survive and develop, so they are more abundant in warm, humid climates but can be found in many regions worldwide
Ticks do not jump or fly; they crawl onto hosts from vegetation. They are often found in areas where animals such as deer, squirrels, and birds live, as these serve as hosts
. In summary, ticks live in wooded, grassy, and brushy areas with sufficient moisture, often at the edges of forests and lawns, and can also inhabit urban green spaces where host animals are present
