Ticks are a type of ectoparasite, parasites which feed on their host from outside of the host. They survive by consuming the blood of other living creatures, specifically mammals and birds, and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. Ticks attach themselves to their hosts by waiting in tall grass or shrubs for a potential host to pass, and then crawl or drop onto the host; this is the only method of tick transportation—they do not fly or jump.

Adult ticks are usually smaller than a match head, and thus are usually unnoticed until they are engorged and enlarged from feeding. They will remove themselves from the host once satisfied, but their feeding requires several days to complete. A tick bite is similar in appearance to a mosquito bite, and may cause mild itching. Tick bites do not usually require medical attention, but in rare cases may result in severe allergic reactions; the main danger in tick bites is the transmission of disease.

Ticks are second only to mosquitoes as transmitters of human disease, including relapsing fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, equine encephalitis, Colorado tick fever, and, most notoriously, Lyme disease. They also carry diseases dangerous to pets and livestock, such as ehrlichiosis and cytauxzoonosis. It is important to remove ticks as soon as possible, as any disease transmission will occur after the first 24 hours of feeding.

The best method of tick removal is to use a small pair of tweezers, grasp the tick's head, and pull gently and steadily until the head comes out. Do not crush or agitate the tick using heat, as this increases the chances of disease transmission.

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