The Clayton Tribune: Our Opinion
It truly may be a head-scratcher on a variety levels, but the increased number this summer of blood-sucking ticks is both perplexing and downright irritating.
While an uptick in the pests may have been slightly seen last year, Rabun County and North Georgia most definitely have been inundated with ticks this year. Many of you have found more than the usual count of ticks on your beloved pets and yourselves since spring has evolved into the summer heat. And if the ticks have not found their way onto your dogs, cats or your body, it assuredly is not for lack of trying.
Living in a part of Georgia with lush outdoor greenery affords ticks plenty of launching-pad type places like trees and plants to go after our prized blood. However, this year they are finding other less nature-like spots to get into your homes and onto your clothing.
Case in point, these bloodsuckers truly do suck. And taking preventive and full-on assault methods to combat ticks are warranted in 2026.
Olympic Pest & Termite Control, who has been tracking pest patterns in North Georgia since 1993, has seen tick encounters rise over the last decade during the spring, fall and, yes, summer.
Ticks are a persistent concern in North Georgia due to the region’s mild winters and wooded terrain, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The most common species are the aggressive Lone Star tick, American dog tick, and the black-legged (deer) tick. These pests can transmit diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease.
If you develop symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, muscle aches, or other flu-like symptoms after a tick bite or spending time in tick-infested areas, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications associated with tickborne diseases.
Ticks thrive in specific temperature ranges. In the past, North Georgia’s harsh winters would reduce tick survival rates, but Olympic Pest & Termite Control officials say milder winters over the last 10–15 years mean ticks survive more easily and become active earlier in spring — sometimes as early as February instead of April.
Tick populations ride on the backs of deer, raccoons, opossums and other wildlife, which is prevalent in our mountainous county of Rabun. As North Georgia has developed, wildlife corridors have shifted, bringing more animals and their piggybacking ticks closer to residential neighborhoods.
Warmer average temperatures compress the tick life cycle, so instead of completing two generations per year, some tick species in Georgia now complete three, which translates into more ticks in your yard and virtually everywhere else too.
In North Georgia, the Georgia Department of Public Health officials say ticks thrive in hardwood forests, shaded brush, tall grass, and along the transitional edges of wooded yards and hiking trails. The Lone Star Tick, Blacklegged Tick and American Dog Tick are typically the evil culprits in our region of Northeast Georgia.
The Lone Star Tick is the most common biter in the state. The females are easily identified by a single white dot on their back. They are highly aggressive and known vectors for Ehrlichiosis and Alpha-gal syndrome.
The Blacklegged Tick is less common than in the Northeast but present in cooler, shaded wooded pockets and they are the primary carriers of Lyme disease.
The American Dog Tick is common in tall grass, field edges, and along trails and is the primary carrier for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Take prevention and safety measures against ticks whenever possible. Since tick activity is a year-round reality in Georgia, outdoor enthusiasts and pet owners must --
-Dress appropriately: Wear long pants tucked into socks and long-sleeved shirts when walking in wooded or brushy areas.
-Repellents: Use an insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
-Check thoroughly: Always inspect yourself, children, and pets thoroughly after spending time outdoors.
-Pet protection: Consult your veterinarian for year-round tick collars, oral medications, or topical treatments.
Diseases reported in Georgia tick populations include:
-Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Transmitted by American Dog Ticks and Lone Star Ticks. Cases are reported every year in Georgia as symptoms include fever, rash, muscle pain, and headache appearing 2–14 days after a bite.
-Lone Star Fever: A more recently identified illness from Lone Star Tick bites, causing fever and malaise.
-Lyme Disease: Transmitted by Blacklegged Ticks. This is less common in Georgia than in northeastern states, but documented cases occur. Early symptoms are flu-like, plus a characteristic rash (bull’s-eye pattern).
-Ehrlichiosis: Transmitted by Lone Star Ticks causes fever, headache, muscle pain and chills.
Most tick bites do not transmit disease, but the risk is real, the diseases are serious, and prevention certainly is simpler than treatment.
If a tick is attached to you or a family member:
1. Do not crush the tick or apply heat, gasoline, or nail polish. These can cause the tick to regurgitate pathogens into the wound.
2. Use fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Pull straight out with steady, firm pressure. Do not twist.
4. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
5. Save the tick in a sealed bag or container. If you develop symptoms (fever, rash, muscle pain) within the next 2–4 weeks, your doctor may want to identify the species and test it for pathogens.
6. Do not touch the tick with bare hands.
We live in an incredible area of Georgia, but sometimes residing in certain areas can have its challenges. Ticks are such challenges.
Continue to enjoy all the perks of our great outdoors, but take the necessary steps to battle our uninvited tick guests.