Ticks in Old Hickory TN: Why They’re Thriving and How to Fight Back

Old Hickory’s mix of lakefront moisture, dense tree cover, and active wildlife makes it a hotspot for ticks.

Old Hickory is one of Middle Tennessee’s hidden gems. Quiet pockets of lakefront, woodland trails, and endless outdoor living opportunities. There’s one small part of Old Hickory life that homeowners don’t love – ticks. In recent years, tick activity has surged throughout the Nashville metro.

Here’s why ticks thrive in Old Hickory TN and what you can do to take back your backyard.

Here’s Why Ticks Love the Old Hickory TN Area

Old Hickory Lake provides residents with beautiful views and all the fun of waterfront living. It also gives pests ample moisture, humidity, and shady spaces to survive and thrive. Ticks remain hydrated and survive longer in these conditions, which increases your risk of backyard tick encounters.

Old Hickory neighborhoods that blend seamlessly into surrounding wooded corridors are beautiful, but deer, raccoons, rodents, and other animals transport ticks. When wildlife moves through your yard, ticks often get dropped off and begin breeding close to your home.

Ticks remain active as long as temperatures allow – and that’s a longer period of time annually in Old Hickory than in other parts of the United States. Middle Tennessee warms up earlier in the spring and cools off slower in the fall, allowing ticks to remain active for most of the year.

Why is the Presence of Ticks a Concern?

Ticks in Tennessee are not just ugly bugs or scary arachnids. They have the potential to make you or a family member very ill. Ticks can even make your pets ill. One tick bite can be truly life-changing. They’re known to spread Lyme disease, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lone star ticks, abundant in Tennessee, have also been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a delayed allergic reaction to red meat and meat by-products consumption.

How Can You Fight Against Ticks in Old Hickory?

There are steps you can take to help your Old Hickory property less likely to harbor ticks. Keeping your grass trimmed and yard debris cleaned up goes a long way fighting ticks. Pruning trees to allow sunlight to reach shady spaces can also help. If your property has a dense wood line, creating a gravel or mulch barrier between your yard and the woods can help keep them from traveling to your yard.

It’s also important to protect yourself when you spend time outdoors. Wear pants and long sleeves while doing yard work, camping, or hiking. Use repellents, such as DEET or picaridin, or wear clothes treated with permethrin.

Additionally, you can help keep ticks away by discouraging wildlife from coming onto your property. Secure trash bins, eliminate food sources, and keep the areas outside your home tidy and free of food waste.

And don’t forget professional tick yard treatments in Old Hickory, provided by the experienced and knowledgeable outdoor pest control professionals at Mosquito Squad of Nashville!

Choose Mosquito Squad for tick control !

Mosquito Squad treats mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and many more outdoor pests throughout the Nashville TN area! Contact us today at (615) 492-3662 or fill out our online form for your complimentary Nashville pest control service assessment and treatment quote.

Also Read: When a Tick Bite is More Than Just a Nuisance