Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in Port Barrington, Wisconsin & Northern IL

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

They latch onto a host. Crawl around. Dig in. Feed on blood. Yuck.

Worse, tick populations are rising in Port Barrington, 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 repulsive 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 Port Barrington. If you have ticks in your yard or are alarmed 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 30 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 applications 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 precautionary steps on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try creating distinct paths between lawn and wooded areas made of wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.

When you’re outside, 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 easier to spot.

Strong 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 Port Barrington, 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 find 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 habitat, a vet can apply or recommend a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The ideal 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 treatment to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your sanity.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near Port Barrington, IL