Ticks are mostly known as pea-sized gruesome parasites found on dogs and carriers of diseases such as Lyme. They let themselves fall out of trees and bushes and suck blood from mammals, birds and reptiles. A tick usually visits three different hosts during its lifetime. Between two meals, they can go for months without food. Ticks like damp surroundings and are not only found in woods, but in the dunes and salt marshes as well.