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

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

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

Worse, tick numbers are growing in Ottawa, 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 vile creatures. 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 harming 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 Ottawa. 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 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 preventive steps on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try crafting separate 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 defend against ticks. Tucking pants into socks or boots creates a tight barrier. Wearing light-colored clothing makes ticks less able to hide.

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

Once back inside, check your entire body for ticks. They tend to hide, so don’t overlook your body’s natural areas of cover: hair, scalp, armpits, groin and behind the knee. Even wood ticks, the other common species in Ottawa, 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 locate 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 wanders tick territory, 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 application to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your mental well-being.

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