Working together to make Martha's Vineyard safer from tick-borne disease and allergies.

A science-based, Island-wide effort that includes bringing the deer herd into ecological balance, alongside other proven interventions, to significantly reduce the Island’s tick population and address a growing public health crisis.

Why Now

Martha’s Vineyard has the highest tick-borne disease rates in Massachusetts and is a national hotspot for Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Alpha-gal syndrome.

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital recorded 1,254 Alpha-gal tests with 523 positives in 2024 - an exponential rise in this red-meat and dairy allergy linked to lone star ticks - up from just 9 tests and 2 positive cases in 2020.

A recent nearly fatal Powassan virus case underscored the stakes for families, workers, and visitors.

Strategy

First Steps

1. Enable hunters to take more deer. We’re removing regulatory bottlenecks so hunters can spend more time in the field. 

2. Map the problem with a thermal drone deer survey. A late winter, Island-wide survey will provide accurate herd numbers, pinpoint deer population hotspots by town and parcel, and guide next steps to significantly reduce their numbers.

3. New Hunter Donation Incentive. Pay $100 per buck and $150 per antlerless deer when donated to the Hunters Share the Harvest program, delivering healthy venison to the Island Food Pantry while encouraging greater herd reduction.

4. Coordinate Deer Damage Permits (DDPs). Enlist farms and eligible large landowners and coordinate with vetted and permitted hunters to seek DDPs. This ensures that deer removals happen legally, safely and at scale outside the regular hunting season.

5. Build an Island-wide strategy. We convene key Island stakeholders with leading scientists and state agencies to develop a coordinated three-to-five year Island-wide strategy.

Measuring Progress

● Achieving Overarching Goal: Sustained declines in reported tick-borne  diseases and alpha-gal syndrome. 

● Pathway metrics: Deer density by town, nymphal tick density at key sites, land  parcels opened, deer processed/donated, and public safety. 

Partnership Priority

This is a collective action effort – six towns, the Tribe, conservation landowners, health partners, Island non-profits, businesses, and the state government. We align roles, share data, and scale what works.

Ways to Help

Donate

Help us take back our Island from tick-borne diseases and allergies. Contact virginia@tickfreemv.org to discuss how you can support this vital work.

Open Land

Create controlled access and enrolled hunts.

Volunteer or Partner

Support with processing, logistics, research, communications.

Stay Informed

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About Us

Executive Director

Virginia Barbatti

Senior Advisors - In Formation

Patrick Roden-Reynolds
Lea Hamner
Mary Breslauer
Maura Valley

Board of Directors - In Formation

Megan Chernin, Co-Chair
‍Jeff Levy, Co-Chair
‍Eugene Ludwig
Bret Stearns
Dick Johnson
Carol Biondi
Isabelle Lew

Virginia Barbatti
Executive Director

“The impact of an overabundance of ticks could not be more personal for  islanders. Too many are living with disease and life-altering allergies, and the risk  of getting sick has changed the way we experience the outdoors. The figures on  this issue are staggering - it's clear we've reached a crisis point and the time for  island-wide action is now.” 

Jeff Levy
Co-Chair

“This is a crisis, but a solvable one if we act together. We are an action-oriented organization that will take steps with the Island community to make meaningful progress against tick borne illnesses.”