Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in Oconomowoc, WI & Northern Illinois

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

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

Worse, tick numbers are increasing in Oconomowoc, 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 vile insects. They can be hazardous, 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 Oconomowoc. If you have ticks in your yard or are disturbed 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 provide 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 safety measures on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try crafting distinctive paths between lawn and wooded areas using wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.

When you’re outside, 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.

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 Oconomowoc, are only about a quarter-inch long (before blood siphoning, that is). Don’t be shy 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 inspect pets, too. If your dog or cat wanders tick territory, a veterinarian can apply or suggest a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The best 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 sanity.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near Oconomowoc, WI