"Lice are very tiny insects. They like to live in hair, so they are often called ""head lice."" An infection with head lice is very common in school-age children, but anyone, even adults, can get lice. Lice do not live on pets and cannot jump, fly, or walk on the ground. But they easily pass from child to child through close contact and on clothes, bed linens, brushes and combs, hats, and toys."