Are There Ticks in Tennessee?
Yes, ticks are very common throughout Tennessee, particularly in forests, woodlands, and brushy areas. The Lone star tick and American dog tick are the dominant species across the state. Blacklegged ticks occur in portions of eastern Tennessee. Tick season extends through much of the year in Tennessee's warm climate, making prevention and prompt removal important for anyone spending.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
American Dog Tick · Nova Patch CC BY-SA
American Dog Tick · Matthew Lindsey CC BY
Asian Longhorned Tick · Zachary Dankowicz CC BY
- 3,351
- GBIF records
Yes, ticks are in Tennessee. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
4 types of ticks recorded in Tennessee
4 tick species have a verified observation record in Tennessee, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
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Plus 1 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Yes, ticks are very common throughout Tennessee, particularly in forests, woodlands, and brushy areas. The Lone star tick and American dog tick are the dominant species across the state. Blacklegged ticks occur in portions of eastern Tennessee. Tick season extends through much of the year in Tennessee's warm climate, making prevention and prompt removal important for anyone spending.
Are they in Tennessee?
Yes, ticks are abundant throughout Tennessee in every region and county. The Lone star tick dominates statewide, thriving in the oak forests, mixed pine-hardwood forests, and cedar glades that characterize Tennessee's landscape. American dog ticks are equally common and established everywhere with suitable habitat. Blacklegged ticks occur primarily in eastern Tennessee, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cumberland Plateau, and ridges of the Appalachian region. Ticks are found in state parks, national forests, hiking trails, private woodlands, and suburban yards with vegetation across the state. Middle Tennessee, with its rolling hills and forests, supports particularly high tick populations. Eastern Tennessee mountains have abundant ticks in addition to blacklegged tick populations. West Tennessee flatlands and bottomland forests also harbor significant numbers. Even urban green spaces and residential yards support ticks. Learn more aboutTick in Tennesseebefore exploring Tennessee's natural areas and hiking trails.
How dangerous is it?
Tick bites in Tennessee carry some health risk, though serious illness is relatively uncommon with prompt removal and medical attention. Lone star ticks can transmit lone star fever, another tick-borne illness, though cases remain rare in Tennessee. Some individuals develop an unusual allergic reaction after a Lone star tick bite that causes delayed allergies to red meat, which typically resolves over time without permanent consequences. American dog ticks can rarely transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. Blacklegged ticks in eastern Tennessee counties can transmit Lyme disease, though this is less common here than in northern states. Most tick bites cause only mild local irritation at the bite site. The key to staying safe is removing ticks immediately and watching for symptoms. Tick-borne illnesses, when they do occur, are treatable with antibiotics and rarely cause serious problems in people receiving prompt medical care.
How to recognize one
Lone star ticks, Tennessee's most common species, have a distinctive white spot on the shield of females, making them easy to identify. Males lack this spot and are entirely dark brown. Both genders are reddish-brown when unfed and about the size of a sesame seed. American dog ticks are tan to reddish-brown with white markings on the shield and similar in size to lone star ticks. Blacklegged ticks are smaller and darker, with females showing reddish-brown coloring on the back and darker brown on the front. Unfed ticks are flat and can be easily overlooked; after feeding for several days, they swell noticeably and become darker. All ticks have eight legs and a distinctive shield-shaped body. Ticks climb onto your body from tall grass and brush, typically grabbing at leg level and crawling upward to warm, moist areas of skin.Tennessee wildlifeinformation helps you identify many creatures you encounter.
What to do if you are bitten or stung
If you find an attached tick, stay calm and remove it as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers or a dedicated tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to your skin as you can and pull straight out with steady, firm pressure. Do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the tick, as this may force infectious material into your body. Never touch the tick with bare fingers. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol once the tick is removed. You may seal the tick in a container if you wish to have it identified or tested later. Do not apply petroleum jelly, nail polish, heat, or other substances, as these cause the tick to regurgitate into the wound. This is general information, not medical advice; if you are bitten, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe. Monitor the bite site for several weeks and seek medical care if you develop fever, rash, or body aches.
How to prevent encounters
Tick prevention in Tennessee requires attention throughout the extended warm season and year-round in mild years. Wear long pants tucked into socks and long-sleeved shirts when working or hiking in vegetation. Choose light-colored clothing so ticks are easily visible. Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin and permethrin to clothing, following product instructions. After any outdoor activity, remove your clothing and thoroughly inspect your entire body for ticks, especially the scalp, neck, armpits, groin, and backs of knees. Shower if possible and wash clothing in hot water. Check pets and children carefully, as ticks hide easily in hair. At home, clear leaves, brush, and woodpiles from your yard. Keep grass and vegetation trimmed short. Apply permethrin to yard edges and vegetation margins. Remove rodents and their nesting materials, as rodents carry ticks.Our wildlife guidesprovide comprehensive outdoor safety information for Tennessee.
Where in Tennessee and when
Ticks in Tennessee are found in nearly every county in forested areas, brushy habitats, grasslands, and yards throughout the state. Eastern Tennessee mountains, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cumberland Plateau, and the Appalachian region, support abundant tick populations including both Lone star ticks and blacklegged ticks. Middle Tennessee's rolling forests and cedar glades harbor significant populations. West Tennessee bottomland forests and oak woodlands support high numbers. State parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and hiking trails statewide have active tick populations. Tick season in Tennessee is extended compared to northern states, beginning in late winter or early spring and continuing through fall. Peak activity occurs in spring and again in fall. Winter provides some relief, but mild winters allow activity throughout the year. Late spring and early fall pose the highest risk.Wildlife in Tennesseeshows seasonal patterns of state wildlife.
Harmless lookalikes
Many small arthropods encountered in Tennessee are mistaken for ticks but are harmless. Seed ticks, appearing as tiny clumps of moving specks, alarm some people but pose no danger. Mites, including chiggers common in Tennessee summers, closely resemble tick nymphs. Small spiders and pseudo-scorpions have eight legs and may appear tick-like to an untrained eye. Bed bugs, though parasitic, do not transmit disease like ticks. Lice lack the eight-legged structure of ticks. Most six-legged insects, including small beetles, are easily distinguished once you know the difference. If you find something you think might be a tick, the safe approach is immediate removal using tweezers. Most small creatures found on your body or clothing in Tennessee are harmless. The key distinguishing feature is the tick's embedding behavior and body shape. For detailed identification help, seeMore on Tick in Tennessee.
Frequently asked questions
Are ticks deadly? Tick bites are rarely fatal, and infections they transmit are treatable with antibiotics. Early detection and professional medical care provide excellent outcomes. How common are tick bites in Tennessee? Tick encounters are very common, particularly during warm months from spring through fall. Anyone spending time outdoors in Tennessee should take precautions. What attracts ticks to a house? Ticks are brought indoors on clothing and pets after outdoor exposure. They do not actively seek homes and do not reproduce indoors. What should I do if I see one? Remove any tick using tweezers, pulling straight out. Check yourself completely for additional ticks. If symptoms develop within two weeks, contact a doctor and mention the tick exposure. See ourTennessee wildlife guidefor more detailed safety information.
Plan your tick sighting in Tennessee
3,351 verified tick records have been logged in Tennessee. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Tennessee
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Natchez Trace Parkway · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Obed Wild & Scenic River · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are they in Tennessee?+
Yes, ticks are abundant throughout Tennessee in every region and county. The Lone star tick dominates statewide, thriving in the oak forests, mixed pine-hardwood forests, and cedar glades that characterize Tennessee's landscape. American dog ticks are equally common and established everywhere with suitable habitat. Blacklegged ticks occur primarily in eastern Tennessee, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cumberland Plateau, and ridges of the Appalachian region. Ticks are found in state parks, national forests, hiking trails, private woodlands, and suburban yards with vegetation across the state. Middle Tennessee, with its rolling hills and forests, supports particularly high tick populations. Eastern Tennessee mountains have abundant ticks in addition to blacklegged tick populations. West Tennessee flatlands and bottomland forests also harbor significant numbers. Even urban green spaces and residential yards support ticks. Learn more aboutTick in Tennesseebefore exploring Tennessee's natural areas and hiking trails.
How dangerous is it?+
Tick bites in Tennessee carry some health risk, though serious illness is relatively uncommon with prompt removal and medical attention. Lone star ticks can transmit lone star fever, another tick-borne illness, though cases remain rare in Tennessee. Some individuals develop an unusual allergic reaction after a Lone star tick bite that causes delayed allergies to red meat, which typically resolves over time without permanent consequences. American dog ticks can rarely transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. Blacklegged ticks in eastern Tennessee counties can transmit Lyme disease, though this is less common here than in northern states. Most tick bites cause only mild local irritation at the bite site. The key to staying safe is removing ticks immediately and watching for symptoms. Tick-borne illnesses, when they do occur, are treatable with antibiotics and rarely cause serious problems in people receiving prompt medical care.
More wildlife in Tennessee