Yes, Lyme disease is a statewide risk, with cases reported in every single Wisconsin county. While historically concentrated in the northern, central, and western regions, the danger is always highest in wooded and brushy environments.
It's a common question, and an important one, especially in Wisconsin. Because unfortunately, Wisconsin is among the higher-Lyme states in the country. No part of the state is risk-free.
Lyme disease has shown up in all 72 Wisconsin counties. The heaviest activity was historically in the northwest, but deer ticks, the blacklegged ticks that carry Lyme, have spread steadily into central and northern Wisconsin over the past few decades, and the bacteria now show up across the state. That includes the southern and eastern regions like the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas.
Wooded areas, brushy edges, and patches of tall grass, the places deer ticks wait for a passing host, are where exposure happens. Yards with a lot of shade or leaf litter, or that back up to woods, are riskier than mowed, open lots. And this is true no matter what county you are in.
Deer ticks are the ones that carry Lyme disease. Most cases come from tiny nymphal ticks that show up around late spring and summer and that are about the size of poppy seeds. Their small size lets them stay attached unnoticed for longer, increasing odds of getting sick.
As for lowering your risk, one thing you can do is use repellent and permethrin-treated clothing outdoors. You can also check yourself, your kids, and your pets after time outside. If you find ticks attached to yourself, remove them promptly (transmission usually takes a day or more). You can also cut back tick habitat while treating the brushy edges of your property.
If you're tired of worrying about ticks every time the family's been outside, Mosquito Squad of Northeast Wisconsin can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded, brushy zones where deer ticks wait, helping protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
