Deer tick is a tiny tick that feeds on the blood of deer, people, and other mammals. Many deer ticks spread an illness called Lyme disease. If untreated, this disease may lead to heart and nerve disorders and arthritis in people.
The blacklegged tick, commonly referred to simply as the deer tick, is a major carrier of Lyme disease. It lives in the northern United States from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and in parts of southern Canada. It is brown in color and under 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) long. The blacklegged tick spreads Lyme disease when feeding on its victim’s blood. It injects bacteria-laden saliva into the victim’s body.
