You found a tick. You removed it. Now what?
The answer depends almost entirely on one question: what kind of tick was it?
Not all ticks carry the same diseases. Not all bites carry the same risk. A bite from an American Dog Tick in the Midwest carries a very different set of concerns than a bite from a Blacklegged Tick in New England. If you cannot identify the tick, you cannot accurately assess your risk, and you cannot have an informed conversation with your doctor.
That is exactly the problem the new Tick Bite ID guide on Trail Ready Solutions was built to solve.
What Is the Tick Bite ID Guide?
The Tick Bite ID guide is a free, photo-based reference tool available on the Trail Ready Solutions website. It covers the eight tick species in the United States that are considered potentially deadly due to the diseases they can transmit.
Each species entry includes a high-resolution photograph (click to enlarge), the regions of the country where that species is most commonly found, the diseases it is known to carry, and the case fatality rate associated with those illnesses when left untreated.
The Eight Species Covered
Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick)
Found throughout the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, this is the primary carrier of Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis. It is small, especially in the nymph stage, which makes it easy to miss during a tick check.
Lone Star Tick
Common across the Southeast and increasingly found in the Northeast and Midwest, the Lone Star Tick is identifiable by the single white dot on the female’s back. It is associated with STARI, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, and Alpha-gal Syndrome, a condition that causes an allergy to red meat.
American Dog Tick
One of the most widely distributed ticks in the country, the American Dog Tick is the primary carrier of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. Despite its name, it readily bites humans and is commonly encountered along hiking trails and in grassy areas.
Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
Found primarily in the Rocky Mountain states at elevations between 4,000 and 10,500 feet, this species transmits Colorado Tick Fever and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and is also associated with Tick Paralysis.
Gulf Coast Tick
Concentrated along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast states, this species is the vector for Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis, a spotted fever illness. It is less commonly encountered than other species but is expanding its range northward.
Brown Dog Tick
The Brown Dog Tick is unique in that it is the only tick species capable of completing its entire life cycle indoors, making it a year-round concern in homes with dogs. It can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and is found throughout the United States.
Western Blacklegged Tick
The West Coast counterpart to the Deer Tick, this species is the primary vector for Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis in California, Oregon, and Washington. It is most active in the cooler months from fall through spring.
Asian Longhorned Tick
An invasive species first detected in the United States in 2017, the Asian Longhorned Tick has now been found in at least 19 states across the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic. It is capable of reproducing without mating, meaning a single tick can establish a large population rapidly. Its disease transmission potential in the U.S. is still being studied, but it is a species worth knowing.
How to Use the Guide After a Bite
If you find a tick attached to your skin, follow these steps:
1. Remove the tick promptly and properly using fine-tipped tweezers or a dedicated tick removal tool. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk.
2. Place the tick in a sealed plastic bag or container. Do not crush it with your fingers.
3. Note the date of the bite and the location on your body.
4. Use the Tick Bite ID guide to identify the species based on its size, color, markings, and the region where you were bitten.
5. Contact your healthcare provider, especially if you develop a rash, fever, fatigue, or joint pain within 30 days of the bite.
Knowing the species allows your doctor to assess the relevant disease risks and determine whether preventive treatment is appropriate.
Be Ready Before the Bite Happens
The best time to learn tick identification is before you need it, not after. Bookmark the Tick Bite ID guide now so it is available on your phone when you are out on the trail and need a quick reference.
And make sure you are carrying the tools to remove a tick safely. The Trail Ready Solutions Tick Removal Kit includes everything you need to handle a tick bite correctly in the field, so you can act quickly and confidently no matter where you are.
View the Tick Bite ID Guide: https://trailreadysolutions.com/tick-bite-id/
Species information sourced from CDC, NIH, and peer-reviewed entomology literature.
Important Health Notice
Educational information only. Trail Ready Solutions does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription guidance, or emergency services. Information on this page is not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.
Tick identification, disease-risk information, symptom information, and suggested next steps may be incomplete or unsuitable for an individual situation. Do not delay seeking professional medical care because of information on this website.
If you have concerning symptoms after a tick bite, seek medical care promptly. For a medical emergency, call 911. Read the full Medical & Educational Disclaimer.