Yes, you can be infected with Lyme disease in Northwest Indiana. The blacklegged ticks that carry the bacterium that causes the disease have a presence here.
There's a lingering belief that Lyme disease is something Hoosiers catch on vacation in Connecticut. That was closer to true a few decades ago. These days, it’s just outright false.
Blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, are established in Northwest Indiana. These are the ones that are known to carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. These ticks, like other ticks, are commonly encountered in leaf litter, tall grass, and other humid vegetation. They are able to travel by hitching a ride on hosts like white-footed mice, deer, humans, and sometimes even birds. There is plenty of all of this in dune-and-swale country.
That said, though Lyme disease is established here, it’s less common here than in the Northeast. You can further reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease by managing the tick habitat on your property. Open, mowed, sunny lawns are poor tick habitats. They prefer wooded trails, brushy areas, tall grass, and leaf litter. That means mowing grass and raking leaves help, as does trimming back dense vegetation. And if you do end up hiking a trail, be sure to use either EPA-registered repellent or permethrin-treated clothing.
When spending time outdoors, it’s a good idea to do a tick check. Be sure to check the hairline, ears, waistband, groin, and behind the knees. If you find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers and pull up straight and with steady pressure. Removing ticks quickly is always a good idea because most tick-borne illnesses take 24 hours or more to transmit. Don’t forget to check kids and pets too.
If your corner of the region has more brush than you can keep up with, Mosquito Squad of Northwest Indiana can help. Mosquito Squad treats the zones where ticks quest, helping protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
