The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reports populations of the Gulf Coast tick in Fairfield County, and notes its potential to further establish in Connecticut and transmit pathogens.  Research scientists with the Tick Surveillance and Testing Program say this is the first report of populations of the Gulf Coast tick in the northeastern United States.  Connecticut already has pervasive populations of blacklegged ticks and established populations of lone star ticks.  The Gulf Coast tick is small to medium sized, body 3-7 mm long and 2-4 mm wide.  The Gulf Coast tick is a three-host tick because each active life stage feeds on a different host. Larvae and nymphs feed on birds and small rodents and rabbits, while adults primarily feed on larger mammals including white-tailed deer, dogs, coyotes, skunks, and bears. They will also readily feed on humans.