Ticks are Everywhere! Here’s What Health Experts Aren’t Telling You…
Ticks are the worst they’ve ever been this year.
If you’ve been hearing about them non-stop lately, you’re not imagining things. Across the state of Tennessee, a majority of homeowners are reporting more tick activity than ever before. Whether you’re spending time outdoors, walking your dog, hiking, or doing yardwork, it’s important to know where ticks hide.
Here’s the truth about what’s been happening lately. Ticks have become one of the most significant outdoor pest concerns in our area. While health officials are focusing more on the diseases they spread, they forget to mention what really matters. Homeowners aren’t hearing the full story for why tick season is at an all-time high right now and what they can do.
Our team at U.S. Pest is committed to helping you feel safe in your own backyard again. Let’s talk more about why tick season is so bad this year and what you can do to keep them away from your home.
Why Ticks Are So Bad This Year
Tennessee is a tick hotspot. Let’s explain this further. First off, our mild winters have allowed more ticks to survive longer in the spring and summer. Therefore, the warmer it is throughout the winter gives ticks more time to prepare to meet their next host.
Next, Tennessee’s humid environment provides a lot of moisture and vegetation. In other terms, things like tall grass, brush, leaves, and wooded edges are all the perfect areas for ticks to live in.
The final reason has to do with the role of wildlife, such as deer, rodents, raccoons, opossums, and any other animals traveling through neighborhoods. Ticks can catch a ride on any animal or human. You don’t have to live near a forest or other grassy area to bring ticks into your yard.
We encourage you to continue staying cautious because this isn’t something to ever play around with.
If Ticks Don’t Just Live in the Forest, Where Are They Hiding?
One of the biggest things homeowners always assume is that ticks are mostly found in deep areas of the woods. However, many tick encounters happen closer than you think they do. You might find them in grass that has yet to be mowed, overgrown landscape, leaf piles, mulch beds, wooded fence lines, and outdoor living spaces. While several homeowners assume they’re safe by not hiking or spending much time outdoors, that’s unfortunately not the case. Ticks only need a hiding place that works for them while they wait for a host to pass by them. This means that your yard can quickly become a hotspot to them, so please pay extra attention!
How Ticks Latch Onto Their Host
Before we dive into this, you need to know two things.
- Ticks cannot jump.
- Ticks cannot fly.
In order for them to catch a ride on their host, they use a behavior called questing. And if you’ve never heard of that term before, it’s how ticks move from host to host. They find a plant or some form of vegetation nearby, extend their front legs, and wait patiently for their next victim. Then, the moment a person or animal walks past them, they grab hold of them and feed.
Keep in mind that we’re not trying to worry you. We’re just helping you educate yourself on all the places you can encounter a tick. A tick can easily hitch a ride on you by something as simple as brushing against a plant.
Ticks Actually Love Your Pets!
Dogs, in particular, are extremely prone to attracting ticks. It doesn’t matter if your dogs spend most of their time in the backyard, ticks can easily latch onto their fur and create problems that can easily be avoided. The most dangerous thing in this situation is that once they’re inside, they’ll wait until another victim passes by.
Every pet owner must regularly inspect their animals before they come back inside. We recommend checking their ears, neck, under the collar, between their toes, under legs, and around the tail. It’s also important to take your pet to the vet for checkups every now and then, especially if something is wrong. Prevention is always the first step to reducing tick populations around your home. After all, it’s about protecting the ones we love most at the end of the day.
Do You Know the Hidden Hotspots Around Your Home?
Ticks are really good at hiding. In fact, a lot of homeowners focus on the center of their yard and overlook the areas where ticks actually are. Here are some of the most common places to check next time you think you have ticks in your yard.
1. Around the Edge of Your Property
Did you know the area between your lawn and beyond is one of the most active zones for ticks? Wild animals are constantly traveling through these areas and drop off ticks along the way.
2. Overgrown Landscape
Shrubs, tall grass, and overgrown vegetation create the most ideal humidity levels that keep ticks surviving longer than usual.
3. Leaf Piles
If you didn’t already know, ticks are huge fans of areas that are moist and in the shade. For example, leaf piles provide the best shelter and protection from direct sunlight.
4. Under Decks and Porches
These areas are usually in the shade, which often attracts rodents and wild animals. Then, those animals bring ticks when crossing over.
5. Children’s Toys
Children’s toys, especially ones that are left out in the yard can quickly turn into a tick hotspot. Make sure you pick up their toys every so often to avoid ticks from making them their temporary shelter.
As you can see, it’s important to understand where ticks live, so you can reduce the risk of facing a severe tick allergy.
How U.S. Pest is Committed to Protecting Middle Tennessee Families
We understand how annoying ticks can be, especially when you just want to enjoy a pest-free summer. At U.S. Pest Protection, our team focuses on identifying the conditions that attract and support ticks. We don’t rely on the same approach for every problem. We create a detailed plan that works for you and your home.
Our mission is as simple as this: We do Whatever It Takes for your family by providing more peace of mind for our Middle Tennessee community.
PLEASE Don’t Let Ticks Take Over Summer 2026
It’s Summer 2026. Don’t let something as small as a tick stop you from enjoying this beautiful weather. While they’re quickly becoming a more serious threat throughout Middle Tennessee, it doesn’t have to keep you from living your best life.
The combination of Tennessee’s mild winter, wildlife, and humidity has created an ideal environment for the tick populations this year. So, if you’ve noticed more ticks around your home this year, you’re not alone. Several others are also experiencing the same thing.
Now is the perfect time to schedule your Mosquito, Flea, and Tick service before the tick problem gradually gets worse. Call U.S. Pest today and we’ll help identify tick hotspots, evaluate the potential risk factors around your property, and develop a customized treatment plan that’s right for you.
