Bayfield County Health Department

05/21/2026

It’s more than Lyme.

Ticks don’t just carry Lyme disease—they can transmit several illnesses, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and more. A single bite can sometimes expose you to multiple pathogens.

The good news: prevention works.

Protect yourself when spending time outdoors:
• Wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck pants into socks in wooded or grassy areas
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents (like DEET, picaridin, or permethrin-treated clothing)
• Stay on clear trails and avoid brushing against tall grass or brush
• Do full-body tick checks after being outdoors—don’t forget behind knees, scalp, ears, and waistband
• Shower soon after coming indoors
• Dry clothes on high heat to help kill any hidden ticks

If you find a tick attached, remove it promptly with fine-tipped tweezers and clean the area. Watch for symptoms like fever, rash, fatigue, or flu-like illness in the days or weeks after a bite—and seek medical advice if they appear.

Awareness and simple habits make a big difference.

05/20/2026

Bayfield County Human Services and Health Departments, along with ADRC of the North are hosting a Senior Empowerment Day on June 18th from 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM at the Harborview Event Center. Topics include home safety and aging in place, tickborne illness prevention and dementia awareness.

05/16/2026

A bit cold up north for pools yet, but for water safety week we will be sharing tips on how to maintain a culture of safety around the water!

Make sure to practice water safety year-round! Know where the safety and rescue items are when you go to a pool, and closely supervise children.

05/14/2026

Iron River and Mason areas may be impacted by smoke tonight from the prescribed burn north if US 2 in the national forest as temperatures drop. Closing windows early and an air filter may help for those with asthma or allergies.

05/12/2026

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure and many don’t know it. Getting your blood pressure checked is the first step to protecting your heart and brain. Use this chart to see where your numbers fall and talk with your health care professional.

05/12/2026

Keep finding and wondering what activity is like in Wisconsin? publishes a Tick Surveillance Report every other week that summarizes deer tick activity based on three monitoring sites in our state. Right now, it shows adult deer tick activity is high.
➡ Keep up on tick activity – check out the most recent report: dhs.wisconsin.gov/library/collection/p-03757-2026

05/04/2026

Check for ticks after spending time outdoors— even in your own backyard. Tick bites can spread germs that cause illness, including Lyme disease, which is most common in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. A few minutes of prevention can make a difference. Get tips to protect yourself against Lyme disease: https://bit.ly/notimeforlyme

04/29/2026

Walk in Wednesday is TODAY! We will be joined by Eric Faber, the Digital Navigator for Bayfield County. 3-6 PM at the Bayfield County Health Department!

04/28/2026

Check your private well if you had flooding!

Bacteria and other hazards from floodwater might have gotten inside.😬

Learn what to do to ensure your water is safe from our friends at Wisconsin Department of Health Services https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/flood/water.htm

04/28/2026

Oh my!! Look at those tick bite increases. Tick bites are on the rise faster than last year. With new tick diseases around, we encourage everyone to use tick bite prevention when out gardening, cleaning up the yard, and when outside recreating. For tips on protecting yourself and info on what the health department is doing to address tickborne disease in Bayfield County, visit: https://bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/665/Tickborne-Diseases