Ticks are only found in forests

False. While it is true that woodlands can have a lot of ticks, ticks can also be abundant  in parks, golf courses, gardens, pastures, moorland and even mown lawn areas if the climate is warm and humid (such as west coast areas of UK).

Ticks survive in moister and milder micro-climates with a large range of hosts – especially where there are large mammals such as deer. Preferred habitats often have thick undergrowth and ground litter, which provide cover against cold and drought and create microclimatic conditions with high humidity (25).

City parks, golf courses and even gardens can have ticks if they are frequented by large hosts such as deer and have appropriate vegetation such as trees, shrubs and/or rough ground vegetation.

However ticks are not only found in forests, pastures or moorland, but also in sub-urban and urban areas, as gardens, recreational parks, boundaries of sylvatic suburban areas, river sides, cemeteries (39, 40).