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 some of the highest tick-borne disease rates in Massachusetts, the Northeast, and even the nation. The island is a national hotspot for Lyme disease, tularemia and Alpha-gal syndrome. There are 5 other tick-borne diseases also present.

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital recorded 1,689 Alpha-gal tests with 742 positives in 2025 - 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.

In 2025, the Powassan virus infection of an infant on the island underscored the risk for our most vulnerable community members.

About Us

Our Mission

Tick Free MV's mission is to reduce tick-borne diseases and allergies on Martha's Vineyard by reducing the number of ticks in the environment.

Our Approach

As the backbone organization for the Island-Wide Tick Strategy, we coordinate across sectors to ensure efforts are aligned and effective;  because reducing tick-borne diseases and allergies is a challenge that belongs to the entire community.
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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.

Get Involved

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 by making a donation.

Collaborate

Want to collaborate in a project or program? Contact grace@tickfreemv.org to discuss ways we can work together.

Join our mailing list

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Our Team

Staff

Virginia Barbatti, Executive Director
Grace Kenney, Program Coordinator

Senior Advisors - In Formation

Patrick Roden-Reynolds
Lea Hamner
Mary Breslauer
Maura Valley
Sam Telford
Jane Seagrave
Ellen McMahon

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.”