Brown Dog Tick
Scientific name: Rhipicephalus sanguineus
The brown dog tick is an invasive tick that primarily feeds on domestic dogs. Originally from Africa, it now has a worldwide distribution, although, in cooler climates like New Jersey, they are most common in kennels, shelters, or other pet care facilities. Of note, dogs can bring brown dog ticks with them, causing an infestation in private homes. Always check dogs for ticks after housing them.
Hosts
As the name indicates, the brown dog tick feeds primarily on domestic dogs and is the only hard tick in New Jersey able to survive indoors. Other tick species are most often killed by the dry air created by indoor heating and cooling systems.
Habitat
In New Jersey, the brown dog tick is most likely to be found in kennels, so careful vetting of kennels and inspection of dogs after boarding is necessary.
Locations in NJ
The first report in New Jersey was in Atlantic County, but brown dog ticks likely occur statewide.
Active Months
Brown dog ticks can be active all year round when living inside. They feed on dogs primarily on the head, ears, back, toes, and between joints. Once they finish blood feeding, this tick species will drop from its host and find a crevice in a sofa or wall to molt to the next stage (or lay eggs in the case of the female). This can potentially create an infestation in a kennel or home.