9 Types of Ticks in California
9 types of ticks have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Pacific Coast Tick, Western Black-legged Tick and American Dog Tick. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
9 types of ticks have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Pacific Coast Tick, Western Black-legged Tick and American Dog Tick. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
13,382 verified observations on iNaturalist of tick have been recorded in California, most often in April, May, June.
When tick are recorded in California
Verified species, source iNaturalist
9 types of ticks recorded in California
9 tick species have a verified observation record in California, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
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Bighorn Sheep Tick
Dermacentor hunteri
26 records
Plus 8 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
The Pacific Coast Tick (Dermacentor occidentalis) is the most commonly recorded, with 5,106 verified observations, about 47% of all ticks reported in California. If you spot a tick here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
California also hosts less common ticks such as Brown Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick and Rabbit Tick, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.