Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in West Lake Forest, Wisconsin & Northern IL

Of all the creepy-crawlies out there, ticks are among the most repulsive.

They glom onto a host. Crawl around. Dig in. Feed on blood. Yuck.

Worse, tick numbers are growing in West Lake Forest, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Less-harsh winters and a healthy deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are repellent insects. They can be hazardous, too. The pinhead-size deer tick (one of two tick species in this area) can transmit Lyme disease. Its symptoms include a ring-shaped rash and fatigue; long-term effects can extend to damaging 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 West Lake Forest. 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 advised. Treatment starts at just $125 per yard.

Two treatments usually deliver 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 made of wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.

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

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 West Lake Forest, are only about a quarter-inch long (before blood siphoning, that is). Don’t be reluctant 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 dog or cat wanders tick territory, a vet can apply or recommend a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The ideal 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 application to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your peace of mind.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near West Lake Forest, IL