These tiny pests aren't without purpose, however. They benefit the moist, dark ecosystems in which they live by serving as a food source for many reptiles, birds and amphibians. They also help control wild animal populations. Scientists even use them as an indicator of an ecosystem's overall health and stability.

Are ticks good for anything?

Ticks are a favorite food source for chickens, turkeys and other ground birds like grouse. A strong and important link in the food chain, ticks take nourishment from larger host animals high in the food chain and transfer that down to lesser organisms.

What are good things about ticks?

A low tick population can also indicate that predators of smaller animals may be getting out of control. Everything is interconnected in the animal kingdom and, regardless of not being favored by many people, ticks do play an important role in helping to strike the right balance in the ecosystems they live in.