Resources
A collection of key references we keep coming back to in our work.
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NPR: Morning Edition - Tick Season is Getting Worse. Can Managing Deer Help?
A national look at the link between deer populations and rising tick-borne illness, featuring Virginia Barbatti and Lea Hamner, with an overview of population-level solutions being explored.
NPR: All Things Considered -"Ticks Surge in the Northeast"
A radio segment on rising tick activity across the Northeast, featuring Virginia Barbatti and Lea Hamner on Martha's Vineyard's lone star tick and alpha-gal crisis, alongside expert prevention tips and a look at emerging solutions.
Tick Free NH: Create a Tick-Free Yard
A practical guide to reducing tick habitat on residential properties through landscaping, integrated tick management, and targeted treatments. Covers mowing and brush clearing, wood chip barriers, tick tubes, perimeter spraying, and biological controls — with links to additional resources for property owners looking to balance tick reduction with pollinator protection.
BioDiversityWorks: Tick Study Property Enrollment 2026
A sign-up form for Martha's Vineyard property owners whose yards are treated with essential oil or organic tick spray. Enrolling allows BiodiversityWorks researchers to collect before-and-after data on treatment effectiveness and ecological impacts — a study designed to fill a critical gap in what is known about this widely used class of tick treatments on the island.
Boston Globe: Ticks are everywhere. Here’s how to stop them.
A practical, expert-driven guide to tick bite prevention covering clothing choices, permethrin treatment, skin repellents, lawn care, and pet safety. Features guidance from researchers at Tufts, UMass, and the University of Rhode Island — a useful reference for anyone spending time outdoors this summer.
Boston Globe: What to know about alpha-gal syndrome, the life-threatening meat allergy caused by tick bites
A comprehensive explainer on alpha-gal syndrome covering what causes it, why cases are rising, which foods to avoid, how long it lasts, and what treatments are available
Vineyard Gazette: As Tick Issues Soar, Fear Becomes a Factor
A look at how the rise of tick-borne illness is affecting Martha's Vineyard's economy and community, from tourists reconsidering visits to restaurants adapting menus for alpha-gal. Features local business owners, healthcare providers, and tick experts on how to balance public awareness with keeping fear from overshadowing island life.
The Daily Show: The Tick Guy Explains How to Stay Safe from Ticks
A lighthearted but informative segment featuring Dr. Thomas Mather ("The Tick Guy") of the University of Rhode Island, who breaks down tick identification, tick-borne disease risk, and his three-pronged prevention approach — tuck, treat, and check — while fielding the Daily Show staff's most anxious tick questions.
CNN: Why This Summer Destination is a Hot Spot for a Rapidly Growing Tickborne Red Meat Allergy
A CNN video report on the rise of alpha-gal syndrome on Martha's Vineyard, exploring why the island has been hit especially hard and how residents and businesses are adapting to the growing threat.
Daily New Hampshire Gazette: Oh deer, ‘ticks are winning’: Booming deer populations, shifting weather are fueling sharp rise across New England
A regional look at the forces driving New England's tick crisis, from booming deer populations to shifting climate, featuring researchers from UMass Amherst and the University of Rhode Island.