News
Mosquitoes and Ticks: More Than a Mere Nuisance (posted July 22, 2026)
By Adam Behnke, BCPH Communications Specialist | July 2026
Editor’s note: Need to know right now if you need health care after a tick bite? Use the CDC’s Tick Bite Guide:
Warm weather usually means more time outside, unless we're avoiding wildfire smoke. When the air is clear, we see how alive Brown County can be. People hike, camp, garden, attend outdoor events, or simply relax in their own backyards. Unfortunately, summer is also when mosquitoes and ticks are most active in Wisconsin.
These pests can be annoying, but they can also spread diseases through bites. The good news? Most bites don't make people sick. This edition of the Healthy Herald will share simple steps to protect yourself and your family from getting bit in the first place.
Why be concerned about mosquitoes and ticks?
Mosquitoes and ticks are active in Wisconsin from late spring to fall. In these warmer months, they feed more and are more likely to encounter people.
Mosquitoes can carry viruses like West Nile virus (WNV). In fact, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services recently confirmed the first WNV activity in the state this year. Ticks can spread illnesses such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Not every mosquito or tick carries disease, and being bitten doesn’t always mean you’ll get sick.
“The detection of West Nile Virus in Wisconsin serves as a reminder to take simple steps to protect yourself and your family,” said Emma Mura, Communicable Disease Strategist for Brown County Public Health. “The best defense is to prevent bites before they happen.”
Protect yourself before heading outdoors
Before heading to the park or going camping, take some simple steps to reduce your risk of bites.
Use an effective insect repellent
Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors. Products with DEET work well against mosquitoes and ticks. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin to repel and kill ticks. Never put permethrin on your skin. Always follow the label instructions, especially for children's use.
Cover exposed skin
Wearing long sleeves, long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes creates a barrier against biting insects. If walking in wooded areas or tall grass, tuck pant legs into your socks to keep ticks away. Light-colored clothing also helps you spot ticks before they attach to you.
Plan your outdoor activities
Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. If you can, schedule outdoor activities for other times or take extra precautions during these hours.
“Ticks are happy to bite you or your pet at any time of day,” said Mura. “So, protect yourself if you plan on being in wooded areas, brush, or tall grass.”
Make your yard less inviting
Many mosquito bites happen close to home. You can cut down on mosquito breeding areas by doing a few simple things.
At least once a week:
- Empty standing water from buckets, flowerpots, toys, bird baths, and pet bowls.
- Clean clogged gutters so water flows properly.
- Drain wading pools when they are not in use.
- Remove water that collects in old tires or other outdoor containers.
Every year, you should also check the screens on your doors and windows for any holes that could let mosquitoes (and other bugs!) into your home.
To reduce tick habitats, keep your lawn mowed, trim brush, and remove leaf litter where ticks can hide.
Check for ticks after being outdoors
A great way to prevent tick-borne illness is to find and remove ticks quickly.
After being outside:
- Check your whole body for ticks. Focus on your scalp, behind your ears, under your arms, around your waist, behind your knees, and around your ankles.
- Check children closely, as ticks can be small and hard to see.
- Look over pets before they come inside, because they can bring ticks into your home.
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to your skin. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause parts to break off. After removing it, wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Source: WI Dept. of Health Services
Mura says you can skip folk remedies like burning the tick or covering it with petroleum jelly or nail polish. These don’t help remove the tick safely.
Watch for symptoms after a bite
Most mosquito and tick bites cause mild itching or irritation. This usually goes away in a few days. However, it’s important to keep watching for signs of illness.
Symptoms may appear days or weeks after a bite and can include:
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Muscle or body aches
- Joint pain
- Rash
- Fatigue or unusual tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
When should you seek medical care?
Most insect bites can be treated at home. But sometimes, medical attention is necessary.
Contact a healthcare provider if you:
- Develop a fever, rash, severe headache, muscle aches, or joint pain within weeks of a tick or mosquito bite.
- Notice an expanding rash after a tick bite.
- See that the bite is getting red, swollen, painful, or draining pus, which may indicate an infection.
- Think a tick may have been attached for a long time, and you start feeling ill.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe allergic reactions like widespread hives, dizziness, or fainting.
You can use the CDC’s Tick Bite Guide to help you determine if you need to visit a health care provider after a tick bite.
Enjoy the outdoors safely
Wisconsin's parks, trails, lakes, and backyards are meant to be enjoyed. You can reduce the risk of bites by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, checking for ticks after being outdoors, and eliminating standing water near your home.
A few minutes of prevention can keep you and your family healthy all season. If you notice symptoms after a bite, don’t ignore them. Reach out to your healthcare provider to see if you need further evaluation or treatment.
With a little preparation, you can focus less on mosquitoes and ticks and more on enjoying summer fun while Wisconsin's warm days last!
Stay Healthy, Brown County!
Sources: Wisconsin Department of Health Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency