The diet of parasites in deer eyes

The parasite's modus operandi is to find a suitable host animal, attach itself, and then extract nutrients or resources at the host's expense to sustain its own life cycle.

Ticks are opportunistic parasites that seek out areas on their hosts where they can feed with minimal disturbance and optimal access to blood vessels. The eyes, ears, and other facial regions of animals are prime targets for a couple of reasons.

The skin around the eyes and other facial areas is often thinner and more vascular, providing easier access to blood. Animals may groom less effectively around their eyes, allowing ticks to attach and feed with less risk of being dislodged. Grooming behaviors typically focus on areas that are easier to reach.

Additionally, many tick species release chemicals that numb the skin and reduce inflammation around the feeding site. This clever trick helps them stay hidden, allowing them to feed on their host for as long as they can avoid detection.

Parasites, like all other forms of life, will do what they must to survive and reproduce. If that means taking out the eyes of a deer fawn to ensure their own sustenance, they will not think twice about doing so.