protected from tick-born diseases. Check out this great information about how to look out for ticks and how to protect yourself here. ​

If you do happen to get a tick on you. It's important not to panic. It's important to stay calm, and get the little bugger off! Before you go reaching for those tweezers, make sure you're aware as to how to best remove and attached tick to better decrease your chance of contracting a disease or get an infection from the attachment site. 

Step 1.   Gather all your necessary supplies: 

• Tweezers
• Rubbing alcohol or warm, soapy water
• Cotton balls or a clean cotton cloth 
• a small container or tape for disposal

Step 2.      Get a Clear View of the Tick
Be sure that you can comfortably see what you are doing and that you have a good view of the tick you are trying to remove. If the tick is in a hard to reach area, be sure to enlist the help of a friend in order to avoid improperly removing the tick. 

Step 3.      Get a Hold of the Tick
Take your tweezers--a set of fine-tipped tweezers are highly recommended--and gently grab hold of the tick as close to the skin as possible. 

Step 5.  Clean Up
You will want to be sure to clean the area thoroughly. Use the alcohol or warm, soapy water to cleanse the area.  

Step 6. Disposal
You will need to kill the tick by placing it in rubbing alcohol. Then you can flush it down the toilet or wrap it tightly in tape and throw out. 
You can also choose to have the tick analyzed to see if it carries any diseases. For this you will need to keep the tick alive, and store it in a container for testing. 

Often these activities include hiking, camping, spending time outdoors--but before you plan your last summer excursion, you need to think about what may be hiding and waiting to put an end to any fun you might be planning. 
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Ticks are parasites that attack from the outside of the body. These pests require a blood meal in which to survive. This type of contact between a tick and it's host contributes to the spread of disease from the tick to the host.

​Not all ticks transmit diseases, but taking precautions is key in protecting yourself, your children, and your pets from tick borne diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness(STARI), and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 
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When diagnosed early, tick borne diseases are very treatable. Diagnosis and early treatment is key. 

Lyme disease is the most common disease transmitted by ticks reported on an annual basis with an increase of over 80% of reported cases from 2004 to 2016 according to the CDC. Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that affects muscle strength, can cause arthritis, rashes, severe headaches, and possibly inflammation of the brain. 

While Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-born illnesses, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the most deadly. 

Reported cases of the rare but deadly Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever have been increasing over the past several years with one reported death in Wisconsin so far this year. ​Veterinarian offices are reporting an increase of cases in dogs, and pediatrician offices have treated cases in children as young as 5. 

Dogs and other small animals are only 8-12 inches off the ground and like to lay around in grassy areas which makes them a prime and easy target. 

The fear of tick-born illnesses shouldn't deter you from enjoying yourself in these last few weeks of summer. Here are a list of things  you can do to stay on the safe side:

2. Daily Tick Checking: It's a great idea to check yourself daily for ticks that might be climbing upwards. If a tick hasn't latched on, removing it before it has a chance to is by far the safest way if preventing the transmission of tick-born diseases. It's important to check those spots that aren't as visible with the naked eye: 

4. What you Wear Matters: Wear ​long-sleeved shirts and long pants. If you wear lighter color clothing, it will make it a lot easier to identify ticks on your clothes. 

Take time and enjoy your summer. Be mindful of your surroundings, and always check yourself and your pets. Remember, wash any possibly contaminated clothes before simply throwing them in a hamper. Not all ticks carry diseases but tick removal is important. The longer a tick stays attached, the greater your chances of having a tick-born disease transmitted. 

If you fear that your yard may be a tick haven, don't hesitate to give us a call at Champion Pest Management. We can come out and assess your yard situation, and discuss a treatment plan that best suits your needs, your family's needs, and your pets' needs.