Tick Disease Prevention in Wisconsin: What You Need to Know

Wisconsin is one of the highest-risk states in the country for tick-borne diseases. The deer tick (also called the blacklegged tick) is found throughout Wisconsin and is most active from spring through fall, though adult ticks can bite any time temperatures are above freezing. This post will help you and your family stay safe.

Ticks love Tallgrass!

The Benefits of Ticks in our Ecosystem

Ticks actually play several roles in ecosystems, even though they're primarily known as pests:

As prey Ticks are a food source for various animals — birds (like wild turkeys and guinea fowl), opossums, ants, spiders, and some reptiles all eat ticks at various life stages. Opossums are particularly notable; they groom off and consume thousands of ticks per week.

As population regulators By feeding on and occasionally killing weakened or sick animals, ticks can act as a natural check on wildlife populations, particularly deer. This can indirectly shape vegetation and forest structure by influencing grazing pressure.

As hosts for other organisms Ticks support communities of bacteria, protozoa, and other microorganisms — some harmful to hosts, others less understood. This microbial diversity contributes to broader ecological complexity.

As indicators of ecosystem health Tick populations reflect the health of their host communities. A diverse predator-prey balance (more foxes and owls → fewer mice → fewer ticks) signals a functioning ecosystem. Tick explosions often signal imbalance, like deer overpopulation or loss of predators.

The nuance Ticks are what ecologists sometimes call a "low-keystone" species — their removal probably wouldn't collapse an ecosystem, but they do contribute threads to the web. Their most significant ecological role may actually be indirect: the diseases they carry (like Lyme) can influence host animal behavior, movement, and population dynamics in ways that ripple outward.

The irony is that a healthy ecosystem — with intact predator diversity and balanced prey populations — naturally keeps tick numbers in check. Tick overabundance is often a symptom of ecological disruption rather than a feature of a thriving system.

Tick-Borne Diseases Found in Wisconsin

The deer tick in Wisconsin can carry several different infections:

- Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii) — the most common tick-borne illness. Symptoms include a "bull's-eye" rash (erythema migrans), fever, fatigue, headache, and joint/muscle aches. If untreated, it can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

- Anaplasmosis — causes fever, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes low blood counts. Can be serious in older adults.

- Babesiosis — a malaria-like illness causing fever, chills, sweats, and fatigue. Can be dangerous for older adults, people without a spleen, or those with weakened immune systems.

- Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis) — found mainly in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Causes fever, headache, and fatigue.

- Borrelia miyamotoi disease — a form of relapsing fever with recurring episodes of fever, headache, and body aches.

- Powassan virus disease — rare but serious. Can cause brain inflammation (encephalitis). There is no specific treatment.

-Alpha-Gal syndrome (red meat allergy). Lone Star Ticks are less common in wisconsin, but encounters are increasing. Bites from these ticks can cause allergic like reactions.

How to Prevent Tick Bites

Before going outdoors:

- Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.

- Wear long sleeves and long pants. Tuck pants into socks or boots.

- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin spray (0.5%). Permethrin kills ticks on contact and lasts through several washes. You can also buy pre-treated clothing. Do NOT apply permethrin directly to skin.

- Apply an EPA-registered repellent to exposed skin (see repellent guide below).

After coming indoors:

- Do a full-body tick check. Pay special attention to the scalp, behind the ears, armpits, belly button, groin, and behind the knees. Check children carefully.

- Shower or bathe, or at minimum do a tick check, within 2 hours of being outdoors

- Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any ticks. If clothes need washing first, use hot water.

Around your yard:

- Keep grass mowed short.

- Consider a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas.

- Keep playground equipment and patios away from yard edges and trees.

- While there is recommendation to remove brush piles and leaf litter to reduce tick infestation, recognize that to create a healthy ecosystem, all insects, especially native insects, benefit from leaf litter.

Repellent Guide: DEET and Alternatives

The following repellents are recommended by the CDC and medical guidelines for preventing tick bites:

DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide)

- The most widely studied and proven tick repellent.

- Available in concentrations from 5% to 100%. Higher concentrations last longer, but concentrations above 50% do not add meaningful extra protection.

- 30% DEET provides approximately 6 hours of protection; 5% DEET provides about 2 hours.

- Safe for adults and children 2 months and older when used as directed.

- For children: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using products with 20–30% DEET. Do not apply to children's hands, eyes, or mouth. Adults should apply it for young children.

- Apply sunscreen first, then DEET. Do not use combination sunscreen/DEET products.

- Decades of use show a very low risk of side effects when used as labeled.

Picaridin: Technically synthetic but derived from pepper plants; very effective and gentle on skin.

- As effective as DEET with less odor and less damage to fabrics and plastics.

- Safe for children 2 months and older.

- Available in 5–20% concentrations.

IR3535

- A synthetic repellent available in lotion (7.5%, ~2 hours protection) and spray (20%, ~8 hours protection).

- Safe for children 2 months and older and during pregnancy.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)

-  One of the most effective plant-based repellents, CDC-recognized.

- Spray form provides up to 6 hours of protection.

- Do NOT use on children under 3 years old.

- Important: "Lemon eucalyptus essential oil" is NOT the same product and is not effective.

2-Undecanone

- A plant-derived repellent (from tomatoes) registered by the EPA.

- Can be applied to skin and clothing.

Permethrin (for clothing only)

- Kills ticks on contact. Apply to clothing, shoes, and gear — NOT to skin.

- Highly effective and more protective than DEET when applied to clothing.

- Lasts through multiple washes. Pre-treated clothing is also available for purchase.

What About Natural or Herbal Repellents?

Many people ask about natural alternatives. Here is what the evidence shows:

- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE/PMD) is the only plant-based repellent with strong enough evidence to be recommended by the CDC and medical guidelines. It is listed above.

- Some essential oils — including oregano, spearmint, thyme, clove, geranium oil and cinnamon oils — have shown some ability to repel ticks in laboratory and small field studies. However, they have NOT been studied well enough to be officially recommended.

- Citronella has negligible effect against ticks.

- Garlic, B vitamins, ultrasonic devices, and wristbands have no proven effectiveness against ticks.

Bottom line: If you prefer a more natural option, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is the best-supported choice (for ages 3 and up). For the strongest protection, especially in high-risk areas like Wisconsin, DEET or permethrin-treated clothing remain the most reliable options.

How to Remove a Tick

If you find an attached tick:

1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.

2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk.

3. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

4. Do NOT use a match, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or other substances to try to make the tick detach.

5. Save the tick if possible — place it in a sealed bag or container, or tape it to a piece of paper. Write down the date and where you think you were bitten.

When to Call Your Doctor After a Tick Bite

Contact your healthcare provider if:

- You think the tick was a blacklegged (deer) tick AND it was attached AND engorged (swollen with blood), suggesting it fed for a prolonged period.

- You develop a rash (especially a round, expanding rash), fever, headache, fatigue, or joint/muscle pain in the days to weeks after a tick bite.

- You are unsure what type of tick bit you.

Bring the tick with you to your appointment if you saved it.

Signs of Lyme Disease: What you should know

Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria spread through the bite of the tiny deer/blacklegged ticks.

Early Signs (3 to 30 days after a tick bite)

The most important early sign is a skin rash called erythema migrans (EM).

Here is what to look for:

- A red, expanding rash at the site of the tick bite that grows over several days to more than 2 inches across

- The rash may look like a solid red circle, or it may develop a "bull's-eye" pattern with a clear ring in the middle — but most rashes do NOT look like a bull's-eye

- The rash usually does not itch or hurt, but it may feel warm

- The rash appears in about 70% to 80% of people who are infected

You may also have flu-like symptoms, including:

- Fever and chills

- Headache

- Fatigue

- Muscle and joint aches

- Swollen lymph nodes

Later Signs (weeks to months after a tick bite)

If Lyme disease is not treated early, the infection can spread to other parts of the body.

Later signs may include:

- Additional rashes on other areas of the body (not just where you were bitten)

- Joint pain and swelling, especially in the knees and other large joints — this can come and go

- Facial drooping (Bell's palsy) — weakness or drooping on one or both sides of the face

- Severe headaches and stiff neck

- Numbness, tingling, or shooting pains in the hands or feet

- Heart problems such as an irregular or slow heartbeat, dizziness, or shortness of breath (this is uncommon but can be serious)

- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems

Key Points to Remember

- Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the classic "bull's-eye" rash — the rash can look like a solid red patch

- Early treatment with antibiotics is very effective and prevents later complications

- Lyme disease is NOT spread from person to person

- If you are unsure whether a rash or symptom could be Lyme disease, it is always better to see your doctor sooner rather than later

Doxycycline: Preventive Antibiotic After a Tick Bite

In high-risk situations, a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline can reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease after a tick bite. This may be recommended when ALL of the following are true:

1. The tick was a blacklegged (deer) tick — Wisconsin is a high-risk area for these ticks.

2. The tick was attached and engorged (swollen), suggesting it fed for an extended time.

3. The tick can be removed and the antibiotic given within 72 hours of tick removal.

4. The patient has no allergy to doxycycline.

Important notes:

- This is just ONE dose — not a full course of antibiotics.

- Doxycycline is safe for children of all ages at this single dose.

- Doxycycline for a short course is safe with breastfeeding.

- This preventive dose does NOT protect against other tick-borne diseases like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus or alpha-gal syndrome. Continue to watch for symptoms even after taking the antibiotic.

- If you develop symptoms of any tick-borne illness, see your doctor promptly — you may need a full course of treatment.

Lyme Disease Vaccine Update

- There is currently NO approved Lyme disease vaccine available in the United States.

- A previous Lyme vaccine (LYMErix) was available from 1998 to 2002 but was discontinued by the manufacturer.

- A new vaccine called VLA15 is currently in advanced clinical trials (Phase 3) for adults and children ages 5 and older. It has received Fast Track designation from the FDA. If found to be safe and effective, it may become available in the coming years.

- There is no vaccine for the other tick-borne diseases found in Wisconsin (anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Powassan virus).

Until a vaccine is available, prevention through repellents, protective clothing, tick checks, and prompt tick removal remains the best strategy.

Special Tips for Children

- Always supervise repellent application for children. Adults should spray repellent on their own hands first, then apply to the child's skin.

- DEET and picaridin: Safe for children 2 months and older.

- Oil of lemon eucalyptus: Do NOT use on children under 3 years old.

- For infants under 2 months: Use physical barriers only — long clothing, mosquito netting over strollers and carriers. No chemical repellents are recommended.

- Children who play outdoors in wooded or grassy areas should have a tick check every time they come inside.

- Check pets too — they can carry ticks into the home.

When Is Tick Season in Wisconsin?

- Highest risk: May through July (when tiny nymph-stage ticks are most active — these are very small and easy to miss).

- Continued risk: Through October for adult ticks.

- Winter: Adult ticks can be active any time temperatures are above freezing.

- Stay vigilant throughout the warmer months, especially in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas.

Summary

Connection to the natural world is essential to finding joy, regulating our nervous systems, and healing the planet. We want you to be in relationship to the land, plants, animals and insects. As we connect to the land and therefore strengthen our local ecosystems, rampant tick-borne diseases will fade. Pull your socks over your pants, spray some oil of lemon eucalyptis and enjoy the Tallgrass!