Ticks and Lyme Disease

I don’t want to be an alarmist but knowing about ticks is VERY important. Prevention starts with you. You cannot be clueless and careless especially where Deer Ticks are prevalent.

Martha’s Vineyard is an island of mostly sand. The population changes dramatically from one season to the next. Martha’s Vineyard has a year-round population of about 15,500 swelling to 115,000 in the summer. Approximately 63% of the Island’s housing stock is second homes for seasonal residents, and an additional 10,000 visitors are coming and going on ferries, in private boats and via air travel every day mid-June through Labor Day. A lot of them bring pets.

Since 2014 The Captain Morse House discouraged pets due to the hitchhiking of pests into the home. The hardwood floors and in town location provide a degree of comfort for our guests and an inhospitable climate for pests. Additionally we use Terminex to treat the interior and exterior of the house. All of this means we are doing the best we can to provide you a pest free environment.

I was recently asked about Deer Ticks by an incoming guests. Deer ticks are smaller than Wood Ticks and are the only Ticks to carry Lyme Disease. Lyme is a very serious disease. In general an in-town yard is safe as it is not part of the deer habitat however when you go to the beach or dogs get into the yard ticks may drop off onto the short grass. As mentioned before this is one of the reasons that I do not allow pets anymore is the ability of them to bring sand fleas and ticks into the house.

Edgartown does not nearly have the issues that they have in the woods where ticks cling to long grass and literally jump onto you. If you must go to the woods use long pants and tuck them into your socks. We prefer white socks to make it easier to see ticks beginning to make their march up from your shoes. You should check your legs every now and then as it is not uncommon in a wooded area to be able to intercept them.

How you act is very important to keeping ticks away. I highly recommend taking an evening bath or shower after being out and about on Martha’s Vineyard island. This evening ritual is important for washing off any poison ivy, ticks, sun screen etc. that is used during the day. Children should be carefully examined after playing and after bath or shower.

How to protect yourself from Ticks

Here are some resources for Tick identification.

Tick Research

Treat Clothes with Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent

For ten hour protection Repel 100 Insect Repellent

Both of these are available from Amazon

I recommend shipping them ahead of your stay.