Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in Lake Forest, Wisconsin & Northern Illinois

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

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

Worse, tick numbers are increasing in Lake Forest, 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 creatures. 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 damaging 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 Lake Forest. If you have ticks in your yard or are alarmed 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 time, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is advised. 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 protective measures on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try creating distinct 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 defend against ticks. Tucking pants into socks or boots creates a tight barrier. Wearing light-colored clothing makes ticks less able to hide.

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

Once back indoors, check your whole body for ticks. They tend 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 Lake Forest, 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 check pets, too. If your dog or cat roams tick habitat, 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 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 Lake Forest, IL