Tick populations are exploding in New Jersey. If you've found a tick on yourself or your pet, you may want it to disappear as fast as possible – but scientists would love to see it.

News 12's Brian Donohue went to the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, home to NJ Ticks for Science, a program that enlists the public in the all-important research into ticks. The lab asks members of the public to send in ticks they find on themselves or their pets so they can be tested for pathogens and used to track tick populations across the state.

The service is free of charge. For more information go to ticks.rutgers.edu.