Tick Safety Guide for Pets and People on Martha’s Vineyard
🌸 Spring is nearly here — and so are the ticks! 🌸
As the weather warms up on Martha’s Vineyard, we’re all itching to get outside — including our furry friends. Longer walks, sunny beach adventures, and off-the-beaten-path explorations are what island living is all about. But with all that outdoor fun comes tick season, which is a fact of life here on the Vineyard.
The good news? With a little planning and some simple habits, you can protect both your dog and yourself from ticks while still enjoying all that spring and summer have to offer. Here’s your full guide to keeping everyone safe from ticks on Martha’s Vineyard.
Why Tick Prevention is Essential on Martha’s Vineyard
Ticks aren’t just annoying — they can carry diseases that are dangerous for both dogs and humans. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis are all tick-borne illnesses commonly found on the island. These diseases can cause serious health issues for your dog, ranging from fatigue and joint pain to more severe complications.
Because the Vineyard’s natural beauty includes wooded trails, grassy meadows, beach dunes, and even coastal scrub, it’s a perfect habitat for ticks. That’s why being proactive about prevention is a must for every island dog.
5 Essential Tick Prevention Tips for Vineyard Dogs
1. Stay Up to Date on Tick Prevention Medications
Your first and best line of defense is vet-approved tick prevention. Options include:
Monthly oral medications (like NexGard or Simparica)
Topical treatments (like Frontline Plus)
Tick-repellent collars (like Seresto)
Talk to your veterinarian to choose the best method for your dog based on their size, breed, and lifestyle.
2. Make Tick Checks Part of Your Daily Routine
Even with prevention meds, ticks can still latch on — so daily tick checks are essential after walks, hikes, or playtime in the yard. Focus on these common hiding spots:
Inside ears and around the neck
Between toes and in paw pads
Under the tail and around the belly
Along the muzzle and under the chin
In armpits and groin area
The sooner you find and remove a tick, the lower the risk of disease transmission.
3. Stick to Open Trails & Well-Maintained Paths
Ticks love tall grass, dense brush, and leaf litter, so whenever possible, stick to:
Wide, well-groomed trails
Open fields with short grass
Beaches and sandy areas (ticks prefer shade and moisture, so they’re less common on sunny beaches)
Keeping your pup on-leash in heavily wooded or overgrown areas helps reduce their exposure.
4. Use Extra Protection with Tick Sprays or Natural Repellents
In addition to vet-prescribed prevention, some dog owners like to use natural tick repellents for added protection. Options include:
Dog-safe sprays made with cedarwood, peppermint, or lemongrass oil
Lightweight tick-repellent bandanas or vests for hikes
Always make sure any product you use is labeled safe for dogs — some essential oils can be toxic to pets, so choose carefully.
5. Keep Your Yard Tick-Safe
Even your own backyard can harbor ticks. If you have a fenced yard or outdoor play space, here are a few steps to make it less tick-friendly:
Keep grass mowed short
Remove leaf litter and brush piles where ticks hide
Create a buffer zone with gravel or wood chips between wooded areas and your lawn
Consider professional tick treatments for your yard — just be sure they’re safe for pets
What to Do If You Find a Tick on Your Dog
Don’t panic — ticks are common, even with the best prevention. Here’s how to safely remove one:
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
Pull straight out with steady, even pressure — don’t twist or jerk.
Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.
Clean the area with antiseptic and wash your hands.
Keep an eye on the bite site for redness, swelling, or signs of infection.
If your dog seems tired, stiff, or just “off” after a tick bite, contact your veterinarian.
Tick Safety for Humans: How Vineyard Locals & Visitors Can Stay Safe
It’s not just dogs — ticks pose a real threat to people, too, especially on Martha’s Vineyard where Lyme disease is a serious concern. Whether you’re hiking, walking your dog, or just enjoying the yard, follow these human tick safety tips:
1. Dress for Protection
Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
Tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants to reduce exposed skin.
Wear a hat to keep ticks off your scalp.
2. Treat Clothing & Gear
Use permethrin spray on clothing, shoes, and gear, or send clothing to Insect Shield for professional treatment.
Treated clothing repels and kills ticks on contact.
3. Carry a Tick Kit
Tweezers for quick removal.
A small roll of tape — if you spot a tick crawling on you, press the sticky side onto the tick to trap and dispose of it easily.
A small plastic bag to save removed ticks for identification if needed.
4. Stay on Trails & Out of Brush
Just like for dogs, avoiding tall grass, leaf piles, and brushy areas lowers your risk.
5. Check Yourself Thoroughly
After every outing, check your entire body, especially:
Behind knees
In armpits
Along the waistband
In your hairline and around ears
Shower within two hours of coming inside — this can help rinse off unattached ticks.
6. Know What to Do if Bitten
Use tweezers to remove the tick, clean the bite, and watch for symptoms like fever, rash, or joint pain.
If you’re unsure how long the tick was attached, or if symptoms develop, see a doctor right away.
Want to Know if a Tick Carried Disease? Send It for Testing
If you find a tick on your dog (or yourself), you don’t have to wonder whether it was carrying something dangerous — you can send the tick for testing through TickReport, a program run by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Laboratory of Medical Zoology.
How TickReport Works
Go to www.tickreport.com.
Complete the online submission form.
Follow the instructions to mail in the tick.
You’ll receive a detailed report within a few days, identifying the tick species and testing for diseases like:
Lyme disease
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Ehrlichiosis
And more
Why It’s Helpful
If the tick tests positive for a disease, you can share the results with your vet (or your own doctor) to help guide next steps — whether that’s monitoring for symptoms or starting treatment early.
When is Tick Season on Martha’s Vineyard?
Ticks can be active year-round on the Vineyard if temperatures are above freezing, but spring and fall are peak seasons. Early spring (March-May) is especially active as ticks become more mobile after winter. Staying vigilant from March through November is key.
Ticks and Alpha-Gal Syndrome on Martha's Vineyard
While we typically think of ticks as causing Lyme disease, they can also transmit Alpha-gal syndrome — a condition that leads to a severe allergic reaction to red meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc.) if a person is bitten by a tick carrying the Alpha-gal sugar molecule.
Alpha-gal syndrome has been reported on Martha’s Vineyard, and tick bites are the most common way for the allergen to be introduced into the body. Here’s what you should know:
Symptoms of Alpha-gal syndrome include hives, difficulty breathing, and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) after consuming red meat.
Symptoms usually appear 3-6 hours after eating red meat.
The tick responsible for Alpha-gal transmission is typically the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), which is found in some parts of the Vineyard.
How to Protect Yourself
Wear protective clothing when hiking or spending time in tick-prone areas.
Check yourself thoroughly for ticks after spending time outdoors — especially around the legs, waistline, and scalp.
If you notice any allergic reactions after consuming red meat, contact your healthcare provider to discuss the possibility of Alpha-gal syndrome and testing.
Vineyard-Specific Tick Facts
The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the most common carrier of Lyme disease on the Vineyard.
Ticks thrive in moist, shaded areas — think wooded trails, dune grasses, and even the edges of lawns.
Ticks don’t jump or fly — they wait on vegetation and grab onto passing hosts, so staying on clear paths really helps.
Enjoy the Vineyard Safely This Spring
Ticks are part of life on Martha’s Vineyard, but they don’t have to ruin your pup’s outdoor fun. With a few simple precautions and regular tick checks, you and your dog can enjoy all the beauty the island has to offer — safely.
🌸 Need help keeping your pup active and safe this season? We offer dog walks and play sessions with tick safety in mind — contact us today to schedule your dog’s springtime adventures! 🌸