In my neck of the woods you're more likely to be bitten by the lone star tick, which seems not to be able to communicate Lyme disease, but sometimes its bite can leave you with an allergy to red meat:
Please note that the Lone Star Tick can transmit a number of other diseases that are quite scary (various Ehrlichia, Tularemia), as well as STARI (Southern Tick Associated Rash Infection) which is very Lyme-like.