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

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

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

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

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are disgusting 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 injuring 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 Racine County. 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 recommended. 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 measures on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try building separate paths between lawn and wooded areas using wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.

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

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

Once back inside, check your entire body for ticks. They prefer 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 Racine 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 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 check pets, too. If your pet roams tick territory, a vet can apply or suggest a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The most thorough 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.