Resources
A collection of key references we keep coming back to in our work.
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NEWVEC Project White Tail
Project White Tail studies how white-tailed deer support tick populations and tests safe ways to reduce ticks on deer, led by New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases (NEWVEC). Its goal is to develop effective methods to lower tick-borne disease risk.
Public Health Significance of the White-Tailed Deer and its role in the eco-epidemiology of tick- and mosquito- borne disease in North America
Learn about the significance and the role white-tailed deer have in the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne diseases.
The Vineyard Current Show with Tick Free MV
An conversation with Virginia Barbatti of Tick Free MV on MVY Radio
The Vineyard Gazette: State Looks to Get a Handle on Alpha-Gal Numbers
Massachusetts is beginning to formally track alpha-gal syndrome to better understand and respond to a rapidly growing tick-borne health problem, particularly severe on Martha’s Vineyard.
MV Times: Vineyard delegates call for increased hunting access
Leaders are advocating for looser hunting restrictions as a practical and controversial solution to reduce deer, curb tick populations, and address a growing public health issue on the island.
MV Times: A Year in Review, The year of the tick
2025 marked a shift from ticks being a long-standing problem to a full-blown, widely recognized public health crisis, driven especially by the surge in alpha-gal syndrome and concerns about limited resources to fight it.
The Vineyard Gazette: Taking Aim at the Island’s Tick Problem
Key actions being pursued include:
Encouraging more deer hunting, including financial incentives for donated venison
Exploring expanded use of deer damage permits
Conducting thermal drone surveys to better track deer populations
Developing a broader, multi-year plan that may also target other hosts like mice
However, the article emphasizes that there is no single solution, reducing ticks will require a combination of approaches, community support, and long-term effort
MV Times: Stepping up an offensive on ticks
A Martha’s Vineyard Times article discusses growing concerns about ticks and tick-borne illnesses on the Island, along with local efforts to improve prevention, education, and public awareness.
The New York Times: What to Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a Meat Allergy Linked to Ticks
What to know about alpha-gal syndrome and what to do if you have it:
The Vineyard Gazette: New Initiative Aims to Reduce Island Tick Population
A new nonprofit is trying to tackle tick-borne diseases and allergies in an Islandwide effort, covered by the Vineyard Gazette 12/4/25