Groundhog Tick
Ixodes cookei
Groundhog ticks, also referred to as Woodchuck ticks, are very similar in appearance to Blacklegged Deer ticks, so examination by an expert is strongly recommended to safely distinguish between the two species. Fortunately, unlike the case with Deer ticks, Groundhog ticks have not been associated with Lyme disease transmission and do not typically prefer humans as a host.