The Vineyard’s growing tick crisis has caught the attention of lawmakers on Beacon Hill, prompting changes to the deer hunting season that officials hope can cut off the food source for the arachnids.
The Vineyard’s growing tick crisis has caught the attention of lawmakers on Beacon Hill, prompting changes to the deer hunting season that officials hope can cut off the food source for the arachnids.
Representatives from the governor’s office, state Rep. Thomas Moakley, Sen. Julian Cyr and other officials all convened at a tick summit at Oak Bluffs town hall on Wednesday to discuss ways to confront the increasing number of tick-borne illnesses on the Island, including the recently approved expanded six-week winter deer hunting season.
The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife that same day signed off on a new hunting season for the Vineyard and Nantucket, allowing hunting to continue for archers and primitive firearms from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14. An additional 10-day deer hunting season will also be held in September 2026, and the state is considering opening hunting on Sundays next year.
Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Lea Hamner, Dick Johnson and Virgnia Barbatti.
Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Lea Hamner, Dick Johnson and Virgnia Barbatti.
“The prevalence of tick-borne illnesses has gotten so bad on both Islands that it’s time that we brought the experts together and started a conversation about what is possible,” said Rep. Moakley.
Combined, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have the highest density of deer in the state, and the Vineyard’s rates of illnesses, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome far outpace the rest of the commonwealth.
Wednesday’s meeting was attended by county, state and island officials, as well as epidemiologists, biologists, public health experts, representatives from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay (Aquinnah), hunters and leaders from the Island’s new tick-reduction nonprofit, Tick Free MV.
Of particular concern to attendees was the ballooning positive results of alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening tick-borne allergy to red meat and other mammalian products. Caused by the bite of a lone star tick, there have been 724 positive tests for the allergy at the hospital this year.
Lea Hamner, the public health epidemiologist for the Island’s boards of health, said the last five years of surveillance data show Island rates of Lyme and babeosis 11 times higher than the state average. The rate of ehrlichiosis is 99 times higher than the state average, and rates of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia are 185 times higher and 143 times higher.
During that same time period, alpha-gal has exploded. Island schools have been forced to change their menus, residents are avoiding medications with mammal-derived gelatins, and people feel that living on the Vineyard means contracting alpha-gal is almost a certainty.
“People feel alpha-gal is inevitable, and that is unacceptable,” Ms. Hamner said.
Island tick biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds confirmed the worsening state of affairs. He said the threat of tick-borne illness is driving away residents and visitors alike.
“Our public health burden with just deer ticks and Lyme disease was up to our eyeballs,” he said. “Now with lone star ticks, alpha-gal concerns and other associated diseases … our public health burden is way above our heads.”
In line with the state’s emergency actions, much of Wednesday’s discussion addressed deer-targeted methods of tick reduction. Martin Feehan, a deer biologist at MassWildlife, presented on the importance of reducing deer density, given that deer are a main food source for the tick population.
While the state recommends a deer density between 12 and 18 deer per square mile, MassWildlife places the Vineyard’s density at over 55 deer per square mile.
Brian Athearn makes a passionate plea.
Brian Athearn makes a passionate plea.
Mr. Feehan said reducing deer density to a sustainable level is crucial to protect the entire ecosystem, with the added benefit of breaking the cycle of tick reproduction, particularly with lone star ticks.
“Deer actually can be the primary meal for all three life stages with lone star ticks, and so that makes the relationship between deer and ticks much closer with lone star ticks, which is now really the primary focus on a lot of the riskier diseases that we’re seeing here,” he said. “A lot of strategies when we talk about trying to do tick reductions [is to] really focus on ways of trying to essentially stop this cycle from occurring.”
Mr. Feehan estimates that at least 5,000 deer would need to be culled in order to yield a decrease in the overall tick population, a feat that hasn’t been achieved by the current crop of hunters. Just shy of 800 were harvested on the Island last year.
Mr. Feehan emphasized that reducing the Island’s deer density is just one part of the puzzle of tackling tick-borne illness.
People at the meeting also raised scaling back crossbow restrictions and reducing the Island’s 500-foot setbacks for hunting near in-use properties — the most restrictive in the state. State legislation is currently pending to allow broader crossbow use for hunting, which is currently only available to those with a certified permanent disability.
Bret Stearns, the director of natural resources for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), said pro-crossbow legislation will make it easier for tribal members to exercise their protected right to year-round hunting.
“I do believe that we could entice more people to go out and harvest successfully and safely by the use of crossbows,” he said.
Brian Athearn, founder of the MV Hunt Club, emphasized that deer-targeted methods of tick reduction will require close collaboration with the hunting community. He said a wild game processing facility is a key part of the solution so that hunters can butcher the meat they catch. Nantucket opened a facility just last week.
Ticks embedded in one of their favorite meals.
Ticks embedded in one of their favorite meals.
Mr. Athearn has alpha-gal but still hunts to help feed the community. He stressed the enduring need for prevention, and also called for better access to Epipens as the number of people with the allergy increases.
“My son could have died the other day because of two Advil gel capsules [if] I didn’t have an EpiPen handy,” he said.
For Ms. Hamner, attempts at tick reduction and tick-borne illness prevention through methods such as hunting must be accompanied by strong epidemiological surveillance methods so progress can be tracked.
“Right now we have one public health biologist, a part-time disease investigator, and a quarter-time epidemiologist and a crisis that far exceeds that capacity. This is not tenable for the work ahead,” she said. “Without public health surveillance, we cannot evaluate whether increased hunting actually reduces disease.”
Senator Cyr closed the meeting by asking for public feedback from Islanders on deer-targeted tick-reduction methods, including Sunday hunting and a cull of the herd.
“How do we feel about hunting on Sundays? How do people feel about expanding other hunting options? How do people feel about a cull?” he said. “Those are my questions.”
Comments
Don’t know the science, but
EdDon’t know the science, but hope smarter minds are looking into ways of getting birth control in the deer. Maybe bait stations? If that is not possible or won’t work, or will adversely affect other critters, maybe a full? I can’t imaging enough people would want to eat deer that have been hosting every tick illness known. I wouldn’t want to!
Absolutely agree with you ,
Maureen Fischer West TisburyAbsolutely agree with you , Ed. Birth control has got to be a component of the plan
From what I understand (and I
Anonymous MVFrom what I understand (and I am not an expert; perhaps someone with more expertise can weigh in and correct me if needed), the birth control approach would only be effective if a very high percentage of the deer population is treated, and it's unlikely that such a percentage could be reached. And as far as I know (again, please correct me if I'm wrong), ticks do not transmit diseases to deer, so the venison is safe to eat.
Did anyone ask Bill Keating
Tom EdgartownDid anyone ask Bill Keating why he does not the support the Alpha Gal Allergen Inclusion Act? Our food must be properly labeled. https://alphagalaction.org/take-action-on-the-alpha-gal-allergen-inclus…
I’m shocked that Bill is not in support of this already. To me it shows he’s still not understanding the significant risk to life that food labels today have on those that anre impacted. We need proper and consistent labelling of alpha gal friendly.
Alpha gal is only getting worse. Although happy they are realising, this makes me think we’re way behind and more will be impacted. Implying that simply opening hunting to Sundays will solve this dire situation is naive.
I agree with hiring
Caitlin Oak BluffsI agree with hiring professionals to cull the herd as well as implement birth control on the deer population in addition to expanding the hunting season.
Professionals do not come
Brian athearn West tisburyProfessionals do not come with more permission to access deer. They cost tens of thousands of dollars and are ineffective.
We have all the sharp shooters we need and they know the is;and and it’s people. Leave the decisions to the people in charge.
There is an app available
Ashley Hunter West TisburyThere is an app available that will scan food barcodes and tell you if it is safe based on your allergy called Fig. https://foodisgood.com
Thank you. I have this and it
Tom EdgartownThank you. I have this and it’s made it much easier. Restaurants are still an issue with exception of Pawnee House.
Bill has supported the Alpha
Tom EdgartownBill has supported the Alpha Gal Allergy Inclusion Act. Great news !
It is time to hire
Debbie EdgartownIt is time to hire professionals to cull the deer herd. Hire professionals and reduce the herd by 5000. Hunting alone is not solving the problem. The deer reduction needed is too large.
In Fairfield County CT, the towns tried a combination of methods but ultimately the best and most effective was hiring professionals to cull the herd, every year. Reducing the deer herd is an important step in reducing ticks, and tick borne illnesses.
Professionals are the way to
David Bucks County PA & EdgartownProfessionals are the way to get 5,000. Our township here in Bucks County has been using them safely and effectively for years. They take deer very hear where we live yet you never know they’re doing so.
Yikes! How do I feel? Do it
Harriet Bernstein West TisburyYikes! How do I feel? Do it all!!
What happened to the birth control idea?
Diatomaceous earth might help
K. Harrris Chilmark and Philadelphia,PADiatomaceous earth might help with the tick problem. Fewer ticks - possibly more, safer, hunting.
I have been interested in raising and eating bison (American bison, Bison bison) for many years. Listening to producers at conferences discuss problems I was interested to hear one approach to controlling some pests is to expose the animals to diatomaceous earth - it will kill ticks without danger to animals. (Some other bugs will suffer.) The biggest problem may be how to get the diatoms on to the animals. Numerous ways have been tried, with greater or lesser success. This might be a way to help deer and people at the same time.
Thank you.
K. Harris
I am a huge advocate for
Carole Saucier Manchester, CT and EdgartownI am a huge advocate for animals but I think there needs to be a cull. Longer hunting seasons and maybe even some sort of small "bounty" per deer.
Yes, the tick problem is
SherpaG VHYes, the tick problem is definitely an issue on island, but aren’t there other ways of dealing with it besides increased hunting? What about non-hunting means of culling the population? Adding Sunday hunting and longer hunting seasons are not fair for the person looking to get out and enjoy the outdoors.There needs to be some accommodation for hikers wanting to be able to have some time to be able to use our forests in the cooler months without fear of accidental injury. We cannot totally rely on just hunting to solve the problem. We should use a multi-pronged method of thinning the herds so that everyone can benefit in the outdoor experience.
Agree with you here. Maybe I
LB ChilmarkAgree with you here. Maybe I'm naive, but why do we never talk about rodents? Surely they support the ticks just as much as deer.
Why don't we release foxes?
It will be interesting to see
Anonymous MVIt will be interesting to see how many additional deer are harvested with the extended season this year. If it doesn't seem like the numbers are enough to bring down the population and justify the additional weeks, I would support a cull (as long as the venison is utilized), perhaps a one-time concentrated effort or one that is repeated every few years as needed, so that recreational users of the forests can have their Januaries back (and keep their Sundays).
I agree as well. I would
Rachel Baumrin WTI agree as well. I would really like to enjoy all of our woods and preservations without having to worry about hunting for the entire off season. It seams to me that killing the ticks is a more needed thing then killing the animals they thrive off of. Without the deer they will look for another host like humans. Why not treat the wild life with frontline like products so they kill ticks instead of feed them. Perhaps some controlled burns are needed as well. It has also been mentioned that turkeys carry ticks too. Why are we not considering culling turkeys too. I think there needs to be a multi level approach to the problem. Personally I am not a fan of hunting but I can appreciate the threat that ticks present to us.
cull
Edcull
Amen - nobody should have to
Bill EdgartownAmen - nobody should have to worry about getting a serious perhaps fatal disease because we allow so many deer to run wild. Even a town like Syracuse, NY culls deer and they're hardly the epicenter of tick illnesses.
Everyone on the island who relies on rental income must know that many families are not coming to the Vineyard because of this problem. Ferry stats non't lie.
So many people are spraying their yards that we're decimating insect populations to help the deer run wild - not exactly sound ecological practice.
What happened to the
Carmin EdgartownWhat happened to the experiment with deer feeding stations next to permethrin rollers that would treat the deer to kill ticks - the way we treat our pets? I'd certainly put them on my property if they were available, and I'd be willing to cover the cost.
As many good ideas may float
Brian Athearn West tisburyAs many good ideas may float in this column , please know the people involved in this are being culturally, socially, humanely and regionally aware. The science and regional knowledge is front and center. Spit balling ideas is not the plan.
Many of the ideas mentioned are interesting but Martin Feehan from the state is an amazing resource for us and his leadership on this attack biologically couldn’t be better.
Tick free MV is an amazing opportunity to have a coordinated plan. Looking forward to seeing its succeed.
Is there a reason that
Jacob OBIs there a reason that introducing a predator to the island is never brought up as a potential solution? I'm asking because I honestly don't know the full implications, there might be an obvious reason why that option wouldn't work. But I would think bringing in a few dozen coyotes (ensuring they are all the same sex so they don't reproduce and run wild) could bring the deer population down for a few years.
Their population would
John WB OBTheir population would increase, and they are known to attack pets.
Use professionals annually
Shelly manhattan, vineyard havenUse professionals annually and cull 5000 yesterday. Crossbows and Sundays? How about we treat cancer with an herbal poultice.
I have Alpha gal and ended up
Christine SengeI have Alpha gal and ended up in the Vineyard ER twice being diagnosed with food poisoning before a nurse, finally ran a blood test for alpha gal. I was profoundly ill with gastrointestinal issues that led to fainting on both occasions. The island has to have an organized campaign to reduce the deer population ASAP. I support birth control measures over increased hunting as I am concerned with accidental deaths and injuries from guns and bow and arrows on unsuspecting hikers. This island has the most beautiful nature trails to be enjoyed in the spring and fall. And I would hate to have us give that up for fear of being mistaken for a deer.
Tick borne illnesses are all
Alison J west greenwich, RITick borne illnesses are all insidious . I have suffered the past 50 years . The coyote population in RI is keeping the deer population at bay , M.V. Needs to start strongly considering this
Then there go our chickens
JA West tisburyThen there go our chickens,pets,whenever you intro a new species,it always causes more harm than good.All the smaller easier wild and tame pets would be gone first.They say we already have some Coyotes here.Big mistake.We have already lost the wild Quail,Phesant,not May rabbits left either.Raccoons are taking a tole here.They just kill, and they don’t even eat what they kill.Ask any poultry owner.Can’t see a Coyote taking down a deer,unless it’ts injured.
If culling 5,000 deer is
Elizabeth West TisburyIf culling 5,000 deer is needed then hiring professional hunters to execute the job seems reasonable. Since Senator Cyr wants to hear from us then write to his office. Julian’s Email: [email protected] taken from the website: senatorcyr.com
Extending the season for
Bill Simpson VHExtending the season for amateurs is not going to make a difference.
The difference needs to be made by allowing professionals, SWAT, State police and local sniper teams being allowed to practice at night using night vision and infrared scopes on our over abundant herd. They do this in other states and should be allowed here. We
should be cycling these sorts of teams through the island for a few months a year.
Then let the Brians, Hunters and Nelsons of the island take their shots during the day.
The other change that needs to be made is making it mandatory for all lands claiming the agricultural tax exemption to be open to hunting for every day of the open hunting season to at least half the hunters that
request access to their land. No exceptions.
That would mean that all these farmers and wealthy people who pay less in taxes by having llamas graze on their lawns for two weeks a year would be required to allow any licensed hunter to have access to their land.
This is how we will ethically make a dent in the deer problem.
We will also collect more in taxes from these people who allow the exemption to lapse because they are opposed to contributing to the solution by allowing access to their land.
What about Tick traps withf
JA West TisburyWhat about Tick traps withf feramone attractant for ticks,like the fly traps.Place them in the forests,make them accessible for people to buy and place around their yards.It’s human and pet safe,yet traps ticks inside so they can’t get out.? The scientists should be able to figure that out, if the did it for flys.
Controlled burns in the
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownControlled burns in the forest would kill millions of ticks and everything would grow better when all the dead stuff is gone.But that's too easy a partial solution for the Vineyard,we need more theories,and studies and reports and everything else from the educated geniuses,everything but doing something now.
My daughter got alpha gal on
Kerri NewtonMy daughter got alpha gal on island earlier this year. We are not planning to come back as it’s been life changing for her and do not want the rest of our family to risk getting this horrible allergy.
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