Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in North Chicago, Wisconsin & Northern IL

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

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

Worse, tick numbers are increasing in North Chicago, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Mild winters and a healthy deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are repulsive 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 harming 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 North Chicago. If you have ticks in your yard or are worried 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 season, so applying tick repellent by mid-May is advised. Treatment starts at just $125 per yard.

Two treatments usually offer 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 steps on your own, too. Ticks can’t jump or skitter, so try creating distinctive paths between lawn and wooded areas comprised of 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 more visible.

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

Once back inside, 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 North Chicago, 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 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 inspect pets, too. If your pet roams tick habitat, a vet can apply or suggest 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 application to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your peace of mind.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near North Chicago, IL