Tick Season in Middle Tennessee: What Families Should Know

Charles Dickens may not have been talking about Tennessee’s tick season when he famously said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” but he could have been. Just when the weather starts to get nice in the spring and people want to spend their time outdoors, ticks show up in all their disease-ridden glory, ready to clasp onto the next person or animal to brush past them. 

Tick season in Middle Tennessee typically runs from April through October, with ticks remaining active for as long as the temperature stays warm. Families who spend time outdoors are at risk of encountering these tiny bugs, so knowing a few things about them is important if you want to protect your family. All-American Pest Control has gathered the information you need to know about ticks to protect your family’s health and safety.

When Is Tick Season in Middle Tennessee?

Peak tick season begins in April and goes through October in Middle Tennessee. Ticks can be active on warm days in the winter as well, but April through October are the months that you can expect them to be consistently active. However, within this window of time, ticks go through various stages of development.

Nymphs are most active from April through June. These young ticks are small and, depending on the species, can be very difficult to see, even if they’re crawling on you. Adult tick activity peaks from August through October. Adult ticks are larger and easier to identify than nymphs.

Where Are Ticks Most Commonly Found Around Homes and Outdoor Spaces?

Ticks are outdoor pests. Although they can travel indoors on a host, they can’t survive inside on their own due to the lower humidity levels in houses. Where are you likely to find them outdoors? They can show up in a variety of locations, but they prefer heavy foliage and areas that have plenty of moisture. 

You’re most likely to find ticks in the following places:

• Tall grass

• Overgrown lawns

• Wooded areas

• Tree lines

• Leaf litter

• Brush piles

• Yard edges

• Fence lines

• Parks

• Trails

• Playgrounds

When ticks are ready for a meal, they wait on vegetation, looking for a person or animal to pass by. Once someone does walk past, they’ll climb onto them and use them as the host for their next blood meal.

What Types of Ticks Are Common in Middle Tennessee?

There are several common tick species in Tennessee. The ones you’re most likely to encounter around your Middle Tennessee yard include:

• Lone Star ticks- These ticks are common in Tennessee, but are also the least likely to come into contact with humans. They get their name from the white spot that females have on their backs.

• American dog ticks (wood ticks)- These ticks are fairly large, with reddish-brown bodies and white or yellow markings. Dogs and humans are their preferred hosts.

• Black-legged ticks (deer ticks)- The smallest of the common Tennessee ticks, black-legged ticks are often the ones associated with disease transmission, although all three species can transmit various diseases.

What Diseases Can Ticks Spread in Middle Tennessee?

The problem with ticks is their ability to spread diseases through their bites. They need blood meals to survive, so when they find a host, they attach themselves to the host. Ticks can take hours or even days to complete a meal, and in that time, if the tick is carrying any pathogens, they may transmit them to the host. 

Different tick species transmit different diseases. Lone star ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis, STARI, and tularemia. They are also known to trigger Alpha-gal syndrome, which is an allergy to red meat. American dog ticks are known to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Black-legged ticks can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus.

Most tick-borne diseases are treatable, but they need to be caught in their early stages for treatments to be most beneficial. Many of these diseases have symptoms that mimic the common flu, which can delay the proper treatment. Untreated tick-borne diseases can lead to chronic conditions and serious illnesses.

Why Are Ticks More Active During Warmer Months?

Just like many other outdoor pests, ticks need warmth to stay active. Although they can remain somewhat active in cool temperatures, they do best when it’s hot outside. Once it gets warm enough for them to freely move around, they begin looking for hosts. The warmer the winter, the more ticks will survive into the spring, making the potential for a high tick population through the summer likely.

How Can You Protect Your Family From Tick Bites?

The best way to protect your family from contracting a tick-borne disease is to prevent them from getting a tick bite in the first place. This does require some preparation on your part, but it’s possible to greatly reduce your family’s risk with the following tips:

• Use EPA-registered repellents with 20%–30% DEET when spending time outdoors

• Treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin

• Wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks in areas where tick activity may be present

• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see any ticks that have crawled on you

• Perform full-body tick checks after being outdoors

• Check behind knees, underarms, groin, ears, and hair where ticks prefer to hide

• Shower within two hours of coming indoors

• Check pets daily

• Use veterinarian-approved tick prevention for pets

How Can You Make Your Yard Less Attractive to Ticks?

Being vigilant while outdoors and after being outdoors is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to avoiding tick bites. There are also plenty of things you can do to make ticks less likely to be on your property at all. All-American Pest Control recommends the following tips to reduce tick activity around your yard:

• Keep the grass cut short

• Remove leaf litter

• Clear brush and overgrowth

• Maintain clean yard edges

• Create separation between wooded areas and the lawn with crushed stone or another material

By reducing ticks’ habitat, you’ll reduce the likelihood of having ticks on your property. This will make it safer for your family to spend time outside in your yard.

What Should You Do If You Find a Tick on Your Body?

If you find a tick on your body, don’t panic. If it has embedded itself into your skin, you’ll need a pair of tweezers. Grasp the tick firmly, as close to the skin as possible. Using steady pressure, without wiggling, twisting, or jerking the tweezers, pull the tick away from the skin. You want to try to remove the tick fully, in one piece. Once it’s out, crush the tick and wash the area where it was embedded with soap and water.

What Symptoms Should You Watch for After a Tick Bite?

You’ll want to keep an eye on the area of the bite for several weeks after a bite occurs. You’ll also need to pay attention to any changes in your health. If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms, contact a doctor. The signs to look for include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Rash

• Fatigue

• Muscle aches

Monitor symptoms for up to 30 days and seek medical care if symptoms appear.

When Should You Consider Professional Tick Control?

There are several reasons why you might want to consider getting professional tick control for your yard. 

• Ticks are frequently found in your yard

• Pets regularly bring ticks inside

• You live near wooded or high-risk areas

• Family members are being bitten

• DIY prevention is not reducing activity

Professional tick control treatments act as an added layer of protection for Middle Tennessee yards. If you’d rather not worry about ticks every time your kids go outside to play, All-American’s tick control is right for you.

Ready to Protect Your Family During Tick Season?

If you’re ready to stop worrying about ticks, get in touch with All-American Pest Control to schedule your yard inspection and treatment today. Early spring is the perfect time for tick control, since starting a preventative service now, while tick populations are low, makes it far easier to keep those populations low all season long. 

Our tick control maintains consistent protection, beginning in the spring and carrying through peak tick season, all the way through October. By taking early action, you can reduce the risk of tick bites and illnesses. Call All-American to get started today.

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Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.

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