Tick SightingCommunity Report
Gulf Coast Tick Sighting Near Hallstead, United States
Date
Friday, July 17, 2026
Location
Hallstead
Species
gulf_coast
Found On
Just spotted · 1 tick
Notes
Crawled out from under my boot. I was walking out on the prairie this morning with my dog and managing some young Oak Tree saplings.
Report Location
View on full mapAbout Gulf Coast Tick
Gulf Coast Tick
Amblyomma maculatum
Moderate RiskFound along the Atlantic coast and Gulf states. Adults primarily bite deer and other wildlife but will bite humans. Can transmit a form of spotted fever. Expanding its range northward.
Known Diseases
Rickettsia parkeri (a milder spotted fever)Heartwater (in animals)
Habitat
Coastal prairies, grasslands, woodland edges
Region
Gulf coast states, expanding up the Atlantic coast
Peak Season
Adults: August–November. Immatures: spring–summer.
Safety Tips
- •Often mistaken for American dog tick due to similar markings
- •If bitten, watch for eschar (dark scab) at bite site — a sign of Rickettsia parkeri
- •Usually causes milder illness than Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Tick Safety Tips
- ✓Always do a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors
- ✓Shower within 2 hours of coming inside to wash off unattached ticks
- ✓Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks
- ✓Use EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535
- ✓If a tick is attached, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers — pull straight up with steady pressure
- ✓Monitor for symptoms (rash, fever, joint pain) for 30 days after a bite