Tick Season: What to Know

Each spring, as grass greens up and temperatures climb, ticks become an expected part of outdoor life across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. If you spend time in your yard, garden, or nearby wooded areas, understanding when ticks are most active, where they tend to concentrate, and how to check for them is genuinely useful knowledge. Here is a clear overview of what tick season means for homeowners in our part of the country.

When ticks are most active

Tick season in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama is long. Activity typically begins in early March as soil and vegetation warm, peaks in April and May, eases somewhat during the hottest weeks of summer, and then increases again from late July through September. Some species — particularly the Lone Star tick, which is common throughout the region — can remain active during mild winter stretches, though their numbers are reduced.

Spring and fall tend to bring the most encounters because ticks are most active in moderate temperatures with adequate moisture. March, April, May, and October are the months that warrant the most attention when spending time outdoors.

Common tick species in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama

Three tick species account for the majority of encounters in this region:

• Lone Star tick: Medium-sized with a reddish-brown body. Females have a distinctive white or cream-colored spot on their back. This is the most frequently encountered tick across all three states.
• American dog tick: Larger, brown, often with white or gray patterning on the back. Common in grassy, open areas and along trails.
• Black-legged tick (deer tick): Smaller, dark-bodied, with a reddish abdomen when engorged. Typically found in wooded and brushy areas with leaf litter.

All three species will attach to both humans and pets. Recognizing what they look like helps with identification if you find one on your skin or clothing.

Where ticks concentrate in your yard

Ticks do not jump or fall from trees — a common misconception. Instead, they climb to the tips of grass blades and low vegetation and wait for a passing animal or person to brush against them. This behavior is called questing, and it is how ticks find hosts.

The areas of your yard most likely to harbor ticks include:

• Tall grass and unmowed lawn edges
• Low shrubs, brush, and dense groundcover
• Leaf litter and stacked wood
• Mulched garden beds, particularly those in partial shade
• Transition zones between mowed lawn and wooded or natural areas

A well-maintained yard with short grass and clear boundaries between lawn and woods reduces tick habitat and makes your property less hospitable to them.

Practical steps to help reduce tick encounters

A few consistent habits reduce the likelihood of tick encounters for your family and pets:

• Keep grass mowed short — under three inches — and trim vegetation along lawn edges
• Remove leaf litter, brush piles, and fallen branches where ticks shelter
• Create a clear buffer zone between your mowed lawn and any adjacent wooded areas
• Check pets thoroughly when they come inside, paying particular attention to paws, ears, and around the collar
• When spending time in tall grass or wooded areas, wear light-colored long pants and tuck pant legs into socks — light clothing makes ticks easier to spot
• Do a full-body tick check after time spent outdoors — ticks can attach anywhere on the body

These steps are practical and effective, though completely tick-free yards are uncommon in areas with nearby woods or natural vegetation.

How to remove a tick properly

If you find a tick attached to your skin, proper removal is straightforward:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible
• Pull straight upward with steady, even pressure — do not twist or jerk
• Avoid squeezing the tick’s body or applying heat, which can cause it to release fluids into the bite
• Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water
• If a rash, fever, or unusual symptoms develop in the days following a tick bite, consult a medical professional

Professional yard treatment from Specter

If tick pressure on your property feels consistently high — particularly if your yard borders wooded areas or you have pets that spend significant time outdoors — professional yard treatment can help reduce tick populations across your property. Specter’s experienced technicians can assess your yard, identify the areas where ticks are most likely to concentrate, and recommend an approach that fits your family’s needs. Give us a call whenever you are ready — we are always glad to help.