Many tick species are expanding their range, including the lone star tick. This tick use to be restricted to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and the Gulf Coast. Now it can be found as far north as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Maine, and is particularly abundant along the East Coast. The primary host of this tick are white-tailed deer, which have become more abundant in recent years.
But wild turkeys are also playing an important role, as these birds spread and become more numerous. Wild turkeys are a preferred host for the tick larvae and nymphs. Lone star ticks spread a variety of serious diseases to people, cats and dogs. One of the lesser-known and more unusual problems from their bites is an allergic reaction when people eat red meat. The allergy has been increasing as the ticks have increased and spread.