This spring, I’ve already found multiple ticks in my dogs’ fur after taking them out for hikes — if you’ve been spending much time outside, you’ve probably found some too. Ticks aren’t just pesky little bugs; they can carry and spread serious diseases, just like mosquitoes can. Both ticks and mosquitoes are a nuisance Wisconsinites are familiar with, but here are many ways to prevent their bites. 

There are lots of different types of mosquitoes in Wisconsin, but not all of them spread diseases. Some of the diseases that mosquitoes in Wisconsin can spread include West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, Jamestown Canyon Virus, and others. Most people who get sick from a mosquito bite will become ill in the summer or early fall, which is when mosquitoes are most active. Mosquitoes generally live in areas with stagnant or slow-moving water, as well as forests, marshes, and areas with tall grass. 

Using insect repellent is one simple way to help prevent mosquito bites this summer; use repellents with 20-30% DEET, 10-20% picaridin, 10-20% IR3535, or 30-40% oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin and clothes. While using bug spray might be the most common way to prevent mosquito bites, there are other ways to prevent them too. Be sure to place screens on windows and doors, and check them often to make sure they are sealed tightly and in good condition. In addition, consider staying indoors during peak mosquito activity hours, usually at dusk and dawn in Wisconsin. It’s also a good idea to limit the amount of standing water around your home; drain dishes under flower pots, make a hole in tire swings to allow water to drain, and regularly replace the water in bird baths. 

Ticks in Wisconsin can spread diseases such as Lyme disease and, more rarely, Powassan virus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in Wisconsin. Cases have been reported in every county in the state. Over the past 15 years, the average number of reported cases has more than doubled. In 2021, over 4,800 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Wisconsin. Some people who get sick from an illness spread by ticks do not remember getting a tick bite. The common symptoms of illnesses spread by ticks include fever, rash, headache, body aches, and fatigue. Most diseases spread by ticks in Wisconsin, including Lyme disease, can be treated with antibiotics. If you have worrisome symptoms and think you may have been bitten by a tick, you should call your doctor.

Just like with preventing mosquito bites, you can use insect repellent to help prevent tick bites; again, use repellents with 20-30% DEET, 10-20% picaridin, 10-20% IR3535, or 30-40% oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin and clothes. Additionally, talk with your pet’s veterinarian about using a veterinarian-prescribed tick prevention treatment on your pets. In addition to this, there are several other ways to prevent tick bites. When you head outside, wear long sleeves, pants, and tall socks and tuck shirts into pants, and tuck pants into shoes or socks; this helps keep ticks on the outside of clothing rather than on your skin. Consider wearing light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks. When you’re walking or hiking, walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing up against plants on the edge of trails. Lastly, after being outside, check yourself for ticks and take a bath or shower within two hours after coming inside. This helps you find and wash off any ticks on your body. You can also tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, which will kill any ticks still on your clothing. If your clothes are damp, tumble dry on high heat for 60 minutes.

In the case that you do find a tick that has bitten you or a pet, don’t panic, use the following instructions to remove the tick: grasp the tick with narrow-bladed tweezers as close to the skin as possible, then pull upward and out with a firm and steady tension. After you remove the tick, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water and use rubbing alcohol to clean the bite. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services website has even more information about the diseases that can be spread by mosquitoes or ticks, as well as more tips to prevent their bites. To learn more, go to https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/fight-bite/index.htm. 

— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greengountywi.org or 608-328-9509.