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

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

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

Worse, tick numbers are growing in McHenry 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 revolting creatures. They can be hazardous, 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 troubled 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 season, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is endorsed. Treatment starts at just $125 per yard.

Two applications 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 steps on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try creating 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 protect 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 indoors, check your entire body for ticks. They like 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 McHenry County, are only about a quarter-inch long (before blood siphoning, that is). Don’t be hesitant 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 go over pets, too. If your pet roams tick territory, a vet can apply or recommend 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 mental well-being.