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

Of all the bugs out there, ticks are among the most repulsive.

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

Worse, tick numbers are increasing 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 vile 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 damaging 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 worried 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 season, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is advised. 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 protective actions on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try creating distinctive paths between lawn and wooded areas made of wood chips or gravel. Clearing away tall grass helps.

When you’re out and about, 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 more visible.

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

Once back inside, check your whole 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 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 spot 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 habitat, a veterinarian can apply or suggest a topical repellent to keep ticks away.

The smartest 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 mental well-being.