Tennessee Tick Prevention

There are three kinds of ticks that you have to watch out for in Tennessee. Each has its own unique hosts and list of potential diseases. Fortunately, you can protect yourself. Here is a quick rundown on these ticks, followed by some prevention tips.

American Dog Tick
This dark brown tick prefers dogs, cattle, deer, and humans, when it is full grown. Immature stages can be found on mice, rats, rabbits, raccoons, and other mid-sized animals. The American dog tick is known to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Tennessee, but only 3 to 5 percent of adult ticks are known to carry the organism.

Lone Star Tick
This reddish-brown tick is slightly smaller than the American dog tick and is known to target humans readily. The larvae of this tick are known as seed ticks, and can be found in large numbers around vegetation, which can result in hundreds of individual bites. Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia are common with this tick. They are also suspected of spreading Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but research is inconclusive.

Brown Dog Tick
This dark reddish-brown tick is known to attack dogs, but rarely humans. This tick can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis to dogs.

Tick Prevention

• When you keep animals out of your yard, you keep them from bringing ticks into it. There are several ways to do this.

• Don't leave open trash cans around your house. This draws animals in to feed.

• Don't leave a way for animals to get under your porch or deck. This invites them to make a home.

• Consider putting up a fence to keep animals out.

• Get All-American to treat your lawn for ticks on a routine basis with Home Pest Control Plan. 

Ticks don't fall from the trees. Ever. They wait in the grass in a posture called questing. They hold their front legs up in a "pick me up, Mommy" pose and cling to a host as it passes by. Knowing this can help you prevent tick bites when you leave the safety of your home.

• Tuck your pants into your socks if you're going to be in the grass.

• Wear light colors, so you--or someone you're with--can see any ticks as they crawl up the outside of your clothing.

• Spray your pants with insect repellent. 

• Keep your grass cut short

Ticks in Tennessee can spread disease. Protect your home and your family with these simple precautions and the help from experts here at All-American Pest Control. Contact us today about our flea and tick control treatments.