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

Of all the insects out there, ticks are among the most revolting.

They glom onto a host. Creep around. Dig in. Gorge on blood. Yuck.

Worse, tick numbers are rising in Hamilton, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Mild winters and a robust deer herd (which carries ticks) are often blamed.

Ticks Can Spread Lyme Disease

Ticks are disgusting 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease annually. Don’t be one in Hamilton. 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 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 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 building distinct 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.

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

Once back inside, check your entire body for ticks. They like 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 Hamilton, are only about a quarter-inch long (before blood siphoning, that is). Don’t be reluctant 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 go over pets, too. If your pet roams tick territory, a veterinarian 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 treatment to keep ticks away. Consider it an investment against “disgusting” … and into your sanity.

Protecting Your Family Against Ticks & Lyme Disease near Hamilton, WI