Recent rain and warmer weather could be breeding ground for disease-carrying insects

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- With all the recent rain and warmer temperatures heading our way, you may start to see more ticks and mosquitoes outside.

"With the high moisture environment that they like, they tend to get really active," said Will Peters. "From like May through July they get really bad."

Peters is the owner of Bug Blaster Inc. in Suamico and says while these insects can be a problem throughout the year, this is usually the time when insect-related diseases become more prevalent.

West Nile Virus is the most common virus mosquitoes carry in the U.S, and Lyme Disease is carried by ticks. Right now it's too cold to see an increase in mosquitoes, but ticks are already out in full force.

"Every year the tick season gets worse and worse, so I anticipate this year to be last year, plus. The reason is because nothing kills the ticks, not even our harsh winters," said Dr. Beck Krull.

Krull is a veterinarian in the Green Bay area, and said while humans should be on lookout for these disease-carrying insects, they should also be concerned for their pets.

"Prevention is key so it's important that we are examining our pets no matter where you live. The misconception is that this is an up north disease or hunting dog disease and it's in our own backyard," Krull said.

• Click here to see the interactive map showing the number of confirmed West Nile and Lyme Disease cases reported around Wisconsin

There are some simple things you can do to keep your home from becoming a breeding ground for ticks and mosquitoes.

"Keeping your grass cut, keeping the weeds and bushes trimmed. You should also change the water in bird baths, clean the gutters so there's no standing water, all those things can help homeowners," explained Krull.

If you suspect that you or your pet has been bit by a tick or suffer unusual symptoms from a mosquito bite, you should contact your health care provider as soon as possible.