Tips for Preventing Mosquito Bites

Tips for Preventing Mosquito Bites in NW Wisconsin

If mosquito bites were merely annoying, that would be reason enough to reduce their presence on your property. But West Nile virus has been confirmed in NW Wisconsin, and that makes mosquito problems even more pressing. It’s a serious illness, and while most infections don’t cause symptoms, some lead to fever and rare neurological complications.

Being outside is the whole point of Wisconsin Lake Country in the summer. And while there’s no way to entirely avoid bites, you can greatly reduce the amount you deal with through personal precautions and professional treatment of your property.

Wear Light-Colored, Loose-Fitting Clothes

Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing is your first line of defense. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors and can bite through tight-fitting fabrics. Long sleeves and pants aren't always practical on a hot July evening, but when you're sitting on the dock at dusk—peak mosquito time—they certainly help.

It’s also wise to avoid heavily scented products like perfumes, scented lotions, and certain hair products. All of those can attract mosquitoes. 

Use DEET- and Picaridin-Based Repellents

EPA-registered repellents are the most reliable personal defense. DEET at 10 to 30 percent is effective for most outdoor situations. Picaridin works comparably and feels less greasy. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a plant-based option with proven effectiveness, though it's not recommended for children under three.

To make the best use of repellents, apply them to exposed skin before going outside. This is extra important around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are at their most active. If you will be sweating or swimming, be sure to reapply the product according to its directions. For young kids, apply it first to your own hands and then to their skin. This is the best way to avoid it coming into contact with their eyes and mouths.

Remove Standing Water

Trying to control each individual mosquito on your property is not practical. That’s why professionals focus on controlling them on a population level. And while the professionals have access to supplies you can’t easily pick up, you can still do one of their most effective techniques completely on your own: remove standing water.

Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. So when you unclog gutters and tip over containers that hold rainwater (birdbaths, plant saucers, kids’ toys), you can hinder the mosquitoes’ ability to start the next generation. Over time, this can really pay off.

(If you’re looking for more things you can do on your own, check out our video on the 7 T's of mosquito control.)

It’s also a good idea to use screens on windows and porches so the mosquitoes can’t fly in. If you have a screened porch, it’s also smart to run a fan inside it, because that can further discourage mosquitoes from bothering you.

Beyond that, it’s always smart to mow the grass and trim vegetation. Mosquitoes have a hard time during the hot, dry parts of the day. So they have to hide in vegetation at those times. When you reduce the amount of vegetation they can hide in, you take away a lot of their habitat.

Don't Forget Ticks

If you're taking steps to avoid mosquito bites in NW Wisconsin, extend that thinking to ticks. They're active in the same outdoor spaces and carry their own set of diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. 

The number one thing you can do is tick checks after spending time outdoors. Check skin folds, hairlines, behind ears, and anywhere clothing fits tightly. For pets, check around the collar, ears, between toes, and under the tail. Ticks generally have to be attached for 24 hours or more to transmit diseases like Lyme disease. So if you find them and remove them early, it won’t entirely eliminate risk, but it will greatly reduce it.

Need Help with Mosquito Control in NW Wisconsin?

In NW Wisconsin lake country, the external mosquito pressure from lakes, wetlands, and forest is heavy enough that personal precautions alone won't make your yard comfortable. 

So if you’ve done what you can and you still need help, Mosquito Squad of NW Wisconsin can provide it. With a barrier treatment, you can reduce mosquito populations by up to 90% for up to 21 days at a time by targeting where mosquitoes breed and rest.

Tired of coming inside covered in mosquito bites in NW Wisconsin? Call Mosquito Squad of NW Wisconsin at (715) 636-0817 or contact us online for a free quote.