One of the great things about living in this area of the state is the easy access to outdoor recreation. We are just a short drive away from many of the best hiking trails in Georgia. People who frequently enjoy outdoor activities need to be cautious of ticks. They can transmit diseases to humans, but steps can be taken to protect yourself before they bite. There are three main tick species that bite humans in Georgia: the Lone Star tick, the American dog tick and the black-legged tick. Larval ticks, or seed ticks, commonly attach to small hosts. They feed, drop off of the host, shed their skin and develop into an adult stage tick. Adult ticks prefer feeding on larger hosts, such as humans, deer, livestock and dogs.