Of all the creepy-crawlies out there, ticks are among the most repellent.
They glom onto a host. Crawl around. Dig in. Feast on blood. Yuck.
Worse, tick populations are increasing in North Bay, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Mild winters and a robust deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.
Ticks are repulsive creatures. They can be dangerous, too. The pinhead-size deer tick (one of two tick species in this area) can carry Lyme disease. Its symptoms include a ring-shaped rash and fatigue; long-term effects can extend to harming organs and the nervous system. Permanent disability is a very real possibility.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease annually. Don’t be one in North Bay. If you have ticks in your yard or are troubled about the possibility, contact The Mosquito Guy
A single tick protection treatment by The Mosquito Guy will control ticks on your property for up to 30 days. Late spring and early summer are peak tick season, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is endorsed. Treatment starts at just $125 per yard.
Two treatments usually offer sufficient tick control. If you want to prevent ticks in your yard, call 262-521-1258, or e-mail margie@themosquitoguy.com, for a free quote.
You can take preventive steps on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try crafting distinctive paths between lawn and wooded areas comprised of wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.
When you’re outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to defend against ticks. Tucking pants into socks or boots creates a tight barrier. Wearing light-colored clothing makes ticks more visible.
Powerful tick repellents are available. Twenty percent DEET formula is recommended.
Once back indoors, check your entire body for ticks. They tend to hide, so don’t miss your body’s natural areas of cover: hair, scalp, armpits, groin and behind the knee. Even wood ticks, the other common species in North Bay, are only about a quarter-inch long (before blood siphoning, that is). Don’t be modest about searching, lest you miss a hitchhiker.
If you identify one, here’s how to remove it: Grab with a tweezer as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight up and out.
Don’t forget to examine pets, too. If your pet roams tick territory, a vet can apply or recommend a topical repellent to keep ticks away.
The smartest approach, of course, is to make your yard as inhospitable to ticks as possible … and that’s where The Mosquito Guy can help. Contact us for a yard application to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your mental well-being.