Ticks are external parasites that feed off the blood of mammals. Although they are often mistaken for insects, ticks are actually of the arachnid family. They are often found in tall grasses and weeds, in wooded areas, meadows with shrubs & brush, and near water, where warm-blooded animals come to drink. Ticks cannot jump or fly, but instead wait on the tips of grasses or shrubs to attach to hosts passing by. When attached to a host, a tick can feed for hours or even days.