Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in Big Bend, WI & Northern IL

Of all the insects out there, ticks are among the most repulsive.

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

Worse, tick numbers are increasing in Big Bend, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Less-harsh winters and a robust deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are repellent insects. They can be dangerous, 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 injuring organs and the nervous system. Permanent disability is a very real possibility.

The CDC estimate that 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease annually. Don’t be one in Big Bend. If you have ticks in your yard or are anxious about the possibility, contact The Mosquito Guy

A single tick protection application by The Mosquito Guy will control ticks on your property for up to thirty days. Late spring and early summer are peak tick time, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is recommended. 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 precautionary 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 outdoors, 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 less able to hide.

Powerful tick repellents are available. Twenty percent DEET formula is advised.

Once back indoors, check your whole body for ticks. They prefer 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 Big Bend, 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 find 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 roams tick territory, a veterinarian can apply or suggest a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The smartest 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 mental well-being.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near Big Bend, WI