Quick answer
Blacklegged Ticks feed on blood — feeds on mammals, birds, and reptiles, adjusting seasonally based on local habitat and prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Blacklegged Ticks are invertebrates that rely on blood — feeds on mammals, birds, and reptiles. The blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick, is a tiny arachnid that attaches to hosts and feeds on blood, transmitting Lyme disease and other pathogens in eastern North America. Unfed nymphs are poppy-seed sized; adults are larger and most active in fall.
Feeding behaviour
Foraging strategy varies by season. Blacklegged Ticks may hunt, graze, filter-feed, or scavenge depending on ecology.
Role in the food web
As invertebrates, they interact with predators, prey, and competitors across their range.
Human-related feeding risks
Never feed wild blacklegged ticks — it habituates animals to people and can spread disease.
Sources
FAQs
What do blacklegged ticks eat?
Blood — feeds on mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Are blacklegged ticks carnivores or herbivores?
Their diet is best described as: blood — feeds on mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Do blacklegged ticks change diet seasonally?
Yes — many species shift food sources as seasons and prey abundance change.
Can I feed wild blacklegged ticks?
No — feeding wild animals is unsafe and often illegal.