Deer ticks creep their way into Walworth County
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WALWORTH COUNTY — Hikers in the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Whitewater increasingly have unwanted company: deer ticks.
The tiny bugs that carry Lyme disease are suspected to be prevalant throughout most of the southern part of the state, according to a recent study headed by Susan Paskewitz, a professor of entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In a previous study nine years ago, Paskewitz found no instances of deer ticks in the southeastern part of the state.
But now, they occupy a much larger territory.
The 1994 study revealed the ticks had already become established in the western two-thirds of the state.
But since then, reports of Lyme disease and new infestations led Paskewitz to suspect that they had become prevalent throughout Wisconsin.
To find out, Paskewitz conducted another census last fall, and the results confirmed her suspicions. "Pretty much everywhere in Wisconsin is infested now," she explains. "The only place we're not getting them is down (in the very southeast corner of the state) near Bong Recreational Area."
Public awareness is critical, Paskewitz says, so cases of Lyme disease can be diagnosed and treated quickly.
If doctors believe Lyme disease is a northern Wisconsin problem, they may overlook the symptons of the disease that can be effectively treated.
More: Still ticking: Ticks and Lyme disease aren't so rare in SE Wisconsin
Jun 11, 2009 at 12:58 p.m.
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Families can protect their loved ones and pets with a few precautions that were not mentioned in this article. People often mention DEET, but there is a safer option. Permethrin doesn't just repel but kills ticks. Outdoors stores such as REI & LLBean offer permethrin treated clothing for people who enjoy the outdoors. People who enjoy living closer to nature can treat their yards with Tick Tubes by Damminix. It is an eco-friendly, biodegradable and targeted option that kills ticks on mice before they contract Lyme. You only have to place them twice per year - Spring & Summer.
Don't forget: keep leaf litter and brush to a minimum because this is where ticks live.
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