The sun is out and so are the ticks!

Spring brings us some beautiful weather, but more time spent outside means more risk of running into ticks. Ticks are most active when temperatures are between 45 and 50°F, however, they can be active anytime it is above freezing outside and there’s no snow on the ground. Wisconsin experienced its warmest winter on record this past season, meaning we saw ticks as early as the end of February! 

Be prepared in case you run into one of these creepy crawlies by having a Tick Kit on you when spending time outside, particularly if you’re in the woods, marshes, or other areas with tall grass. Our Tick Kits contain the following items:

• Tick Safety Guide: Get helpful information about ticks found in Wisconsin, how to properly remove a tick, and how to prevent tick bites.
• Insect Repellent Wipe: Keep ticks and mosquitoes away.
• Tweezers: Use tweezers to remove tick from skin.
• Plastic Bag: Place tick in bag for possible identification in case you get sick.
• Alcohol Swab: Clean bite area once tick is removed.
• Bandage: Once bite area is cleaned, keep covered with a bandage.
• And a “Fight the Bite” Sticker!

You can pick up one of our kits at our East Washington (2705 E. Washington Ave., 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53704) or Atrium (2300 S. Park St., Suite 2010, Madison, WI 53713) offices. The kits are available while supplies last, as of this posting date. Or you can use the list above to build one of your own!

If you do get bit, be on the lookout for fever and/or a rash. Early symptoms of tickborne diseases can happen from 3 to 30 days after a bite from an infected tick. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms in the month after you know you’ve been bit or you’ve spent a good amount of time outside (camping, hiking, etc.):

• Fever
• Rash (Lyme disease often starts with a rash that looks like a bullseye around bite, but keep in mind not everyone gets this telltale rash)
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle or joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

For more information about illnesses carried by ticks and how to prevent tick bites, visit our website or check out the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Fight the Bite page.