Protect Your Family and Your Pets From Ticks This Spring

Ticks become active in Wisconsin as the weather warms. You’ll usually see them from March to mid-summer. Wood and deer ticks are the most common species found in the state.

Wood Ticks

Wood ticks, called American dog ticks in other parts of the country, are common throughout Wisconsin. They’re often found in wooded areas, shrubs or tall grasses. They are about the size of a dime. UW-Madison entomologists report they aren’t associated with disease transmission in Wisconsin, though they are capable of transmitting the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Deer Ticks

Deer ticks, also called blacklegged ticks, are found in most parts of Wisconsin, including Winnebago and Outagamie counties. 

They can transmit Lyme disease, so make sure to look for a red bullseye rash around your bite. The rash, along with facial palsy and swollen knees, are symptoms of this bacterial disease. See a doctor if you experience any symptoms.

Preventing Ticks While Outdoors

The National Pest Management Association recommends taking these steps to keep ticks off you and your pets while outdoors:

-Use repellent when you’re outside
-Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
-Keep grass short
-Remove weeds and debris from your yard
-Stay on trails when hiking
-Use insect repellent on your pets

Inspect yourself and your pets when you go inside. The Centers for Disease Control recommend using a tweezers to remove a tick, contrary to the popular remedy of using a match to burn it until it backs out of your skin. Read the CDC steps for safe removal.

Don’t let ticks and other pests keep you from enjoying spring weather. Contact us at (920) 582-9000 for your spring pest control needs.