Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in Waukesha County, WI & Northern IL

Of all the bugs out there, ticks are among the most repellent.

They latch onto a host. Crawl around. Dig in. Feast on blood. Yuck.

Worse, tick populations are growing in Waukesha County, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Mild winters and a healthy deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are revolting creatures. They can be dangerous, too. The pinhead-size deer tick (one of two tick species in this area) can harbor 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 Waukesha County. If you have ticks in your yard or are worried 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 thirty 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 applications 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 deterrent steps on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try building distinctive paths between lawn and wooded areas comprised of wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.

When you’re out and about, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to protect against ticks. Tucking pants into socks or boots creates a tight barrier. Wearing light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot.

Strong tick repellents are available. Twenty percent DEET formula is recommended.

Once back inside, check your entire body for ticks. They like 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 Waukesha County, 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 spot 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 check pets, too. If your pet roams tick habitat, a vet can apply or recommend a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The best approach, of course, is to make your yard as unwelcoming to ticks as possible … and that’s where The Mosquito Guy can help. Contact us for a yard treatment to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your sanity.