Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in McHenry County, Wisconsin & 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 populations are increasing in McHenry County, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Mild winters and a healthy deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are vile insects. They can be dangerous, too. The pinhead-size deer tick (one of two tick species in this area) can carry 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 McHenry County. If you have ticks in your yard or are anxious 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 30 days. Late spring and early summer are peak tick time, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is endorsed. 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 safety actions on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try creating separate 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 easier to spot.

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

Once back indoors, check your whole 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 McHenry County, 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 go over pets, too. If your dog or cat wanders tick habitat, a veterinarian can apply or suggest 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 treatment to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your sanity.