Pests don't wait. Protect your home today.
American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Identify it, prevent it, and know when to call. A South Florida guide from Pro-Spray.
$50 OFF your first service + FREE inspectionNew customers · No code needed · No expiration
What Is the American Dog Tick?
The American dog tick is an outdoor tick found in grassy and brushy areas. Unlike the brown dog tick, it doesn't infest homes; it waits on vegetation and attaches to passing animals and people. In South Florida, it's more likely in yards bordering fields, wooded lots, canals with brushy banks or horse and ranch properties.
How to Identify Them
Adults are brown with white or silver-gray ornate markings on the back. Females have a white shield near the head; males have more mottled markings over the back.
Common look-alikes:
- Brown dog tick: plain reddish-brown. See brown dog tick.
Life Cycle and Habits
Larvae and nymphs feed on small animals like mice. Adults feed on larger animals including dogs, raccoons and people. They "quest" by climbing grass and waiting for hosts to brush past.
Signs
- Ticks on dogs after walks along brushy areas
- Ticks on people after yard work or hiking
- Ticks on grass tips along fence lines
Is it dangerous?
- Bites
- Disease risk
Bites people and pets; can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Why They Show Up Here
Yards next to natural areas, pastures, trails and overgrown lots see more. Wildlife like raccoons and opossums brings them closer to homes.
Prevention Tips
- Keep grass mowed and brush trimmed along fence lines.
- Create a clear border between lawns and wooded areas.
- Check pets and people after time outdoors.
- Use vet-recommended tick prevention on pets.
- Discourage wildlife from the yard.
How Pro-Spray Treats American Dog Ticks
We treat yard edges, fence lines, tall vegetation and pet resting areas outdoors, and recommend habitat changes to reduce tick habitat.
Ranch Properties, Horse Barns and Large Lots
In the western parts of Broward and Miami-Dade, larger lots, horse properties and homes backing up to open land give American dog ticks more of the habitat they like. Tall grass along pasture fences, brush piles, overgrown drainage swales and the edges of wooded areas are common spots. Wildlife such as raccoons, opossums and rodents move through these areas and carry ticks with them. Dogs that run the fence line or explore brush are the most likely to pick them up.
On these properties, keeping a mowed buffer between your lawn and natural areas, managing brush piles and keeping pet areas trimmed and sunny makes the yard less inviting to ticks.
Removing an Attached Tick
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or crush it, and avoid home remedies like heat or petroleum jelly. Clean the bite area afterward. Save the tick in a sealed bag or photo it in case you develop symptoms later, and contact a doctor if you notice a rash or fever in the following weeks.
Protecting Yourself Outdoors
When working in brushy areas, wear long pants tucked into socks, use an EPA-registered repellent following label directions and do a full tick check afterward.
If ticks keep turning up on pets, ask your vet whether your current preventive fits your dog's outdoor lifestyle.
New customer offer
$50 OFF your first service
+ FREE inspection
Then stay protected with our $125 quarterly pest control plan, about $42/month.
New customers only. No code needed and no expiration. Mention this offer when you call or text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do American dog ticks live in houses?
Are they dangerous?
How do I check for ticks?
What's the difference from a brown dog tick?
Reviewed October 2026 by Pro-Spray's family-run team
Pests don't wait.
Protect your home today.
Get $50 OFF your first pest service and a FREE inspection & estimate. Ongoing protection is $125 quarterly (about $42/month), with no contracts and no cancellation fees.
Prefer to text or email? Text us · info@prospraypest.com