Protecting Against Ticks (and Lyme disease) in Harvard, WI & Northern IL

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

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

Worse, tick populations are rising in Harvard, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Less-harsh winters and a robust deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are revolting insects. 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 Harvard. 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 recommended. 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 measures 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 outdoors, 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 less able to hide.

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

Once back inside, check your entire body for ticks. They prefer 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 Harvard, 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 examine pets, too. If your dog or cat roams tick habitat, a vet can apply or suggest 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 treatment to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your sanity.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near Harvard, IL