Deer Tick vs. Dog Tick on Cape Cod: How to Tell Them Apart (and Which One Carries Lyme)

On Cape Cod, the tick to worry about is the deer tick, also called the blacklegged tick. It is the species that spreads Lyme disease, and it is much smaller than the common American dog tick. Adult deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed and reddish-brown with a dark shield; dog ticks are larger and brown with gray markings.

The quick version

If you find a tick on Cape Cod, the first question is which kind it is, because that changes how worried you should be. The two you are most likely to see here are the deer tick and the American dog tick. The deer tick is the one that can carry Lyme disease. The dog tick does not carry Lyme. Telling them apart takes about ten seconds once you know what to look for.

How to tell a deer tick from a dog tick

Size is the fastest clue. Adult deer ticks are small, roughly the size of a sesame seed, and the nymphs are smaller still, closer to a poppy seed, which is why so many bites go unnoticed. They are reddish-brown with a solid dark area near the head and darker legs. American dog ticks are noticeably bigger, about the size of a watermelon seed when unfed, and they are brown with mottled gray or white markings on the shield behind the head. If the tick is large and patterned, it is almost certainly a dog tick. If it is tiny and plain, treat it as a deer tick until you know otherwise.

Which one carries Lyme? (the deer tick)

The deer tick is the carrier that matters on Cape Cod. Along with Lyme disease, it can transmit anaplasmosis and babesiosis, and our region has some of the highest tick-borne disease rates in the country. The American dog tick can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, though both are uncommon in Massachusetts, and it does not spread Lyme. That is why identifying the tick is worth the ten seconds. A deer tick bite is the one you watch closely for a rash or flu-like symptoms.

When each tick is active here

Deer ticks are a threat for most of the year on the Cape. The tiny nymphs are out in late spring and summer and cause the majority of Lyme cases because they are so hard to spot. Adult deer ticks stay active through the fall and even on mild winter days. Dog ticks are mainly a spring and early-summer nuisance. The short version: do not assume tick season ends when summer does.

How to check for ticks

Do a tick check within a couple of hours of coming inside, and get in the habit during tick season. On people, look in the spots ticks like to hide: behind the knees, around the waistline, in the groin and armpits, along the hairline and scalp, and behind the ears. Showering soon after being outside helps you find and wash off any that have not attached, and running your clothes through a hot dryer for ten minutes kills hitchhikers. On dogs, run your hands over the ears, between the toes, under the collar, and in the armpits. Kids and pets often bring ticks inside from the same yard, so check them together.

What to do if you find one attached

Use fine-tipped tweezers, grab the tick as close to the skin as you can, and pull straight up with steady pressure. Do not twist or crush it. Clean the bite with soap and water, and note the date. If a rash or fever shows up in the following weeks, tell your doctor about the bite.

The best defense is a yard ticks avoid

Checking for ticks is important, but the fewer ticks in your yard, the fewer chances they get. Our organic tick and mosquito control treats the shady, brushy spots where deer ticks wait, using plant-based essential oils that are safe around kids and pets. If you are in South Yarmouth [add hyperlink to the new area page South Yarmouth] or anywhere on the Cape, we can help you take the yard back.

 Call 508-694-6934 or request a free quote.