As the warmer weather arrives, so do the ticks. However, the past few years have seen a dramatic increase in tick populations, leaving many pet owners wondering why. The answer lies in the increase of deer and rodents, who serve as a primary food source for ticks. As these animals travel in and out of wooded and grassy areas, they bring a larger tick population into more heavily populated areas. The more these ticks feed, the more they reproduce, leading to a greater population.