How To Avoid A Tick Bite

Lyme disease is a potentially serious bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected Black Legged tick, also known as a deer tick.  The Black Legged tick is a small, oval insect that typically feeds on the blood of wild animals, such as deer, raccoons, foxes, and mice.  These tiny insects do not jump or fly; they simply attach themselves to an acceptable host as one passes by.  If that happens to be you or your pet, you are then at risk for contracting a tick-borne disease. There are several tick-borne diseases present in Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, and throughout Wisconsin; however, Lyme disease is the most common and serious and unfortunately, it is on the rise, up 35% in 2010; for more information on Lyme disease in Wisconsin, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/index.htm. Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control would like to offer Wisconsin homeowners a few tips on how to reduce the number of these blood-sucking insects in your backyard as well as a few personal precautions that can be taken when venturing outdoors this spring.

Make Your Property A No-Tick Zone

Although there is no way to ensure that your Wisconsin backyard will be 100% free of Black Legged ticks, but there are a few things that homeowners can do to help make your backyard less desirable and reduce their numbers:

• Cut back trees, shrubs, and other wooded areas away from your yard
• Keep your lawn trimmed to less than 3 inches
• Do not feed wild animals
• Fence in your yard to keep wildlife from passing through
• Plant gardens in the center of your yard, rather than the edges where animals can reach

Personal Precautions To Prevent A Tick Bite

The warm weather season is so short and you don’t want to spend it indoors.  When venturing outdoors, personal precautions to prevent a tick bite are a must and include:

• Avoid areas with high grass and leaf debris
• When hiking, stay in the center of the trail to avoid brushy areas
• Use an effective tick repellent containing DEET
• Wear long pants, tucked into your socks and long-sleeved shirts
• Wear light-colored clothing making it easier to spot a tick
• Do “tick checks” after you return indoors

Following these few simple tips, you can be sure you and your family are safe from tick bites this spring and summer.

Since 1924, Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control has been providing quality, affordable pest control services in Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay as well as throughout Wisconsin.

For more information on effective treatments for the Black-Legged tick or any other tick common in our area, contact us today!