A participant on a recent bird walk found a suspicious bug on his shirt, and asked us to find out what it was. We photographed it and have now ID'd it as a dog tick. 
   These ticks are mostly harmless (as opposed to deer ticks), but they serve as a reminder that ticks are certainly out there — all over Northern New Jersey –  and that you should stay on trails, avoid brushing against shrubs and trees, and basically be on the look out should one get on your clothes.
    (Thanks, Jack!)