Ticks are tiny, blood-sucking parasites that pose a serious risk to your family, pets, and even wildlife. In Middle Tennessee, tick populations have been steadily rising — and with them, the risk of tick-borne illnesses.

Whether you’re hiking, gardening, or just relaxing in your backyard, ticks are closer than you think — often carried in by rodents, deer, or even pets.

Active Seasons

Ticks are most active in late spring through fall, especially in May through September. However, warmer winters mean some species stay active year-round, particularly during mild days.

Lifespan

Ticks live for 2–3 years, passing through four life stages (egg, larva, nymph, adult). Many ticks only feed a few times during their life but can remain attached for several days — long enough to transmit dangerous diseases.

Reproduction Rate

A single female tick can lay up to 3,000–5,000 eggs at a time. The eggs hatch into larvae that begin feeding and developing, often spreading throughout lawns, woodlines, and shady areas of the yard.

How to Identify

Common Middle Tennessee ticks include:

• Deer tick (blacklegged tick): Small, dark, and the primary carrier of Lyme disease

• Lone Star tick: Reddish with a white dot on the female’s back; aggressive biters known to cause meat allergies in some cases

• American dog tick: Larger, brown with white markings; known to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Ticks typically wait on tall grasses, brush, or shaded ground, latching onto passing hosts — including people and pets.

Health Concerns

Ticks are dangerous because they spread disease with a single bite:

• Lyme disease

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever

• Ehrlichiosis

• Tularemia

• Potentially fatal allergic reactions or Alpha-gal syndrome (meat allergy caused by Lone Star ticks)

Symptoms of tick-borne diseases often include fever, rash, fatigue, joint pain, and can become chronic or life-threatening if not treated early.

Property Concerns

• Ticks don’t damage your home, but they thrive in unmanaged outdoor spaces, including:

  • Overgrown grass

  • Leaf piles and mulch beds

  • Wooded borders

  • Under decks or crawlspaces

• Homes with pets are at higher risk for indoor tick transfer

Why You Need Perimeter Pest

Ticks are tough, and once they take over your yard, you’re at risk every time you step outside. At Perimeter Pest, we provide targeted tick control that protects your home, your family, and your pets.

• We identify high-risk tick zones on your property
• Use professional-grade, pet-safe treatments to knock down populations
• Offer seasonal control programs to stay ahead of their breeding cycle
• Educate homeowners on landscape and habitat changes that reduce risk long term

Don’t let ticks turn your yard into a danger zone. Call Perimeter Pest — Middle Tennessee’s trusted source for tick prevention and control.