Color: Brown, becoming grayish when engorged
Legs: 8
Shape: Oval, flattened
Size: 1/8” (3.2 mm) un-engorged; 5/8” (16.5mm) engorged
Antennae: No
Region: Rocky Mountain states
The Rocky Mountain wood tick—also known as a wood tick—gets its name as it mainly lives in wooded areas of Rocky Mountain states.
The Rocky Mountain wood tick is similar to the lone star tick: they’re known as three-host ticks as each feeding stage needs a different host: larva, nymph and adult. At each stage, the tick must feed on blood from a host to develop and move to the next phase of its life cycle.
This tick becomes active in the first warm days of spring, usually feeding from mid-March to mid-July, which is when we humans become most susceptible to wood tick-related diseases.
The larvae and nymphs of Rocky Mountain ticks feed mainly on rodents such as voles, chipmunks and squirrels. The adults prefer to feed on medium to large animals including sheep, deer and us humans.
The Rocky Mountain wood tick is the main carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a severe infectious disease with a death rate of over 20%. A tick needs to be attached for over two hours before they can transmit the disease, so early detection is vital. The main symptom of infection is a full body rash that develops 2-5 days after the tick bite.
This tick species can also transmit Colorado tick fever and tularemia, and can cause tick paralysis after feeding for at least 5-6 days.
Rocky Mountain wood ticks usually live in wooded areas with low-growing vegetation, open grasslands and around trails. This tick is found in higher numbers at low elevation, which helps them easily attach to passing hosts that brush against the vegetation. Both nymphs and adults survive the winter by sheltering in ground debris.
When outdoors, experts recommend that you wear a spray-on tick repellent and long-sleeved clothes. Keep your grass cut low and remove any weeds or woodpiles.
If you find a tick on your body, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to your skin surface as possible. Then, pull upwards with steady, even pressure and avoid twisting or jerking the tick, as this can cause its mouth to break off and stick in your skin. Once you’ve removed the tick, thoroughly clean the bitten area with soap and water. Then, flush the tick down the toilet, or wrap it tightly in a tissue before putting it in a closed container.
Call a doctor immediately if you’ve been bitten and then develop a rash, headaches, pains or fever.
Rocky Mountain wood ticks pose a risk to both animals and us humans by transmitting several diseases, including:
It’s vital to detect and remove the tick early, as some of the diseases they carry can only be transmitted after they’ve been attached for several hours.
Ticks are classified as biological contaminants. A single sighting can trigger an FDA/USDA non-compliance report, mandatory batch quarantines, or a complete "stop-work" order. Our programs focus on documented perimeter exclusion to ensure your facility meets FSMA and cGMP standards for a pest-free environment.
Yes. We use Integrated Pest Management (IPM), focusing on non-chemical barriers and "green" acaricides applied strictly to the building’s exterior. For sensitive lab or food-contact zones, we prioritize mechanical exclusion and habitat fly-over audits to stop ticks before they ever reach your internal environment.