Tick Control Experts in Madison, WI

Black-Legged Tick (Deer Tick)

The black-legged tick is the primary tick of health concern in Madison and across Wisconsin. Adults are small, roughly 3 to 5mm before feeding, reddish-brown with dark legs, and are most active in spring and fall. Nymphs are active primarily in late spring and early summer and are the stage most responsible for transmitting Lyme disease to people because of their small size and the difficulty in detecting them.

Black-legged ticks are found in wooded areas, brush, leaf litter, and the transitional zones between lawns and natural vegetation. They quest for hosts by climbing grass stems and vegetation and waiting for a passing animal or person to brush against them. They do not jump or fly. The lawn edge, wood pile areas, leaf debris, and ground-level vegetation along the perimeter of your property are their primary habitat zones.

Diseases Transmitted by Black-Legged Ticks in Wisconsin

• Lyme disease: the most common tick-borne illness in Wisconsin, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi

• Anaplasmosis: a bacterial infection affecting white blood cells, transmitted by the same tick species

• Babesiosis: a parasitic infection of red blood cells, less common but present in Wisconsin

• Powassan virus: a rare but serious neurological illness transmitted by black-legged ticks

American Dog Tick (Wood Tick)

The American dog tick is the larger, more familiar brown and white-patterned tick that most Wisconsin residents recognize. Adults are 5 to 15mm when engorged and are most active from spring through mid-summer. They are commonly found in grassy, shrubby areas along trails, roadsides, and lawn edges. While they do not transmit Lyme disease, they can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia and their bites can cause tick paralysis in severe cases. Dog ticks are opportunistic feeders that readily attach to dogs, cats, and people. They are one of the most common ticks encountered in Madison yards and on local trails through the spring and summer months.

Lone Star Tick

The lone star tick has been documented with increasing frequency in Wisconsin in recent years and is being encountered in parts of the state including the southern counties. It is identified by the single white dot on the female's back. Lone star ticks are aggressive biters and can transmit several pathogens including ehrlichiosis. We identify all tick species found during our inspection and adjust the treatment approach accordingly.