Deer ticks are primarily found in wooded and brushy areas where they can find their host animals. In the United States, there are two main species:
- The eastern deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is common in the midwestern and eastern parts of the U.S., ranging from the East Coast to as far south and west as Texas and South Dakota. They thrive in moist, shaded environments such as deciduous forests, leaf litter, and low bushes
- The western deer tick (Ixodes pacificus) lives west of the Rocky Mountains, mainly along the coastal regions of California, Oregon, and Washington
Deer ticks are especially prevalent in the large area between the East Coast and Texas, as well as the Great Lakes region. They prefer habitats that provide moisture and shade, such as hardwood forests, tall grasslands, and forest edges
. In summary, deer ticks are found mostly in:
- Eastern and midwestern U.S. forests and brushy areas (eastern deer tick)
- West coast forests and coastal regions west of the Rockies (western deer tick)
- Moist, shaded environments with abundant leaf litter and underbrush where hosts like deer, mice, and other small animals live
