Rocky Mountain Wood Tick

The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni) is a tick that lives in high elevations and dry, grassy mountain areas in the western parts of North America. Although it looks similar to the American Dog Tick, the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is its own species with its own unique behaviors, habitats, and dangers.

This tick is especially important because it is a major vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a potentially life-threatening illness if not treated early. It can also spread other diseases to both humans and animals. Because of this, learning about the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is important for anyone who hikes, camps, or lives in the western U.S. or Canada.

What Does the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick Look Like?

At first glance, the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick can look like the American Dog Tick. It is a hard-bodied tick with a reddish-brown color and silvery or gray markings on its back, especially in adult males. Females have a lighter-colored shield near their head and a dark reddish body that swells dramatically after feeding.

•     Adult males have silver-gray markings across most of their backs.
•     Adult females have a silver shield (scutum) and dark red body.
•     Nymphs and larvae are smaller and harder to identify without a magnifying glass.

Before feeding, adults are about the size of an apple seed, but they can become much larger after a blood meal.

Where Do Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks Live?

This tick lives in mountainous and semi-arid (dry) areas, especially in grassy meadows, foothills, and along trails and forest edges. Its range includes:

•     The Rocky Mountains
•     Pacific Northwest (including parts of Idaho, Washington, Oregon)
•     Western Canada, including British Columbia and Alberta
•     Areas of the Great Plains and Southwest U.S., though less common

They are most active in the spring and early summer, especially from March through July, depending on the climate and elevation.

What Do They Eat?

Like all ticks, Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks are blood-feeding parasites. They use their specialized mouthparts to bite and remain attached to a host for several days while feeding.

Their preferred hosts vary by life stage:

    Larvae and nymphs feed on small rodents such as mice, voles, and squirrels.

    Adults feed on larger mammals, including deer, elk, dogs, and humans.

They locate a host by sensing carbon dioxide, heat, and movement, then latch on when the host brushes past tall grass or vegetation. This behavior is called questing.

Are Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks Dangerous?

Yes—this tick is one of the most dangerous ticks in North America because it can transmit several serious illnesses. While not all ticks carry diseases, the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is a known vector of:

•     Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) – A bacterial disease that can cause fever, rash, vomiting, and even organ failure if untreated.
•     Colorado tick fever – A viral infection found only in the western U.S. that causes fever, chills, headaches, and fatigue.
•     Tularemia – A rare bacterial infection that can affect skin, lungs, and organs.

In addition to spreading disease, adult female ticks can cause tick paralysis in pets and children. This rare condition happens when a toxin in the tick’s saliva enters the body during feeding, leading to muscle weakness that improves once the tick is removed.

How to Prevent Tick Bites in the Mountains

Because these ticks live in mountain environments where people enjoy hiking and camping, it’s important to take steps to avoid tick bites. Simple safety habits can reduce the risk of infection.

To stay safe:

•     Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when hiking in grassy or wooded areas.
•     Apply insect repellent with DEET to exposed skin and permethrin to clothing.
•     Stick to center paths and avoid brushing up against tall vegetation.
•     Check yourself, your pets, and your gear after spending time outdoors.
•     Shower and wash your clothes after hiking to help remove any hidden ticks.
•     If you find a tick, remove it gently with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight out.

Early removal helps reduce the chance of disease transmission.

Life Cycle of the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick

The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick follows a three-host life cycle and takes about 2–3 years to complete all stages. It feeds once during each life stage.

    Egg – Laid on the ground in leaf litter or grass.

    Larva – Tiny, six-legged stage that feeds on small mammals.

    Nymph – Eight-legged and slightly larger; feeds again on small to medium mammals.

    Adult – Feeds on large mammals, mates, and the female lays eggs.

These ticks can survive cold winters by going dormant in sheltered areas, which helps them thrive in mountain climates.

🌟 Fun Facts About Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks

    They are named after the Rocky Mountains, where they are most common.

    They can survive at high altitudes, even above 7,000 feet.

    Female ticks can lay thousands of eggs in one batch.

    Their bite can cause a temporary illness even if no disease is transmitted.

    Some animals develop immunity after repeated tick bites.

👧 Kid-Friendly Summary

The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is a reddish-brown tick that lives in the mountains and dry grassy areas of the western United States and Canada. It bites animals and people to drink their blood and can spread serious diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. You can protect yourself by wearing long clothes, using bug spray, and checking for ticks after spending time outside. If you find one, tell an adult so they can remove it the right way.

📚 Vocabulary Words

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick – A tick found in the western U.S. that can spread serious illnesses
Dermacentor andersoni – The scientific name for this tick
Vector – An animal that spreads disease
Questing – The way ticks wait to attach to a passing host
Host – The animal a parasite feeds on
RMSF (Rocky Mountain spotted fever) – A bacterial disease spread by ticks
Nymph – A middle life stage between larva and adult
Tick paralysis – A temporary illness caused by a toxin in tick saliva

❓ Interactive Quiz (8 Questions)

1. Where is the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick most commonly found?
A. Beaches
B. Forests in the eastern U.S.
C. Mountainous areas in the western U.S. ✅
D. Rainforests

2. What color are adult Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks?
A. Blue and white
B. Reddish-brown with silver markings ✅
C. Green with spots
D. Black with yellow stripes

3. What illness is named after this tick?
A. Tick fever
B. Rocky Mountain spotted fever ✅
C. Lyme disease
D. Chickenpox

4. What do these ticks feed on?
A. Plant nectar
B. Wood and bark
C. Blood from mammals ✅
D. Water

5. What kind of terrain do they prefer?
A. Sandy deserts
B. Mountain grasslands and dry forests ✅
C. Swamps
D. Ice caves

6. What is “questing”?
A. Flying to find food
B. Waiting with legs stretched to grab a host ✅
C. Digging tunnels
D. Eating plants

7. How long can it take for the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick to complete its life cycle?
A. 2–3 weeks
B. 2–3 months
C. 2–3 years ✅
D. 10 years

8. What is tick paralysis?
A. A way ticks fall asleep
B. A computer virus
C. Muscle weakness caused by tick saliva ✅
D. A sickness ticks get from dogs