Maps prepared by cartographer Chris Seidel document the spread of deer ticks, dog ticks and lone star ticks.

Island hunters took nearly 800 deer during the 2017 deer hunting season, the highest harvest in at least 16 years, according to recently released state data.

Shotgun hunting season began Monday, and the weigh station was busy this week with hunters, biologists collecting ticks, and a new deer donation program.

Efforts to reduce the Island deer herd, and an apparent spread of lone star ticks, topped a presentation this week.

Island biologist Richard Johnson has been documenting an apparent spread of lone star ticks inland from Aquinnah and Chappaquiddick this summer.

The real tick season has started as nymphs of both deer ticks and lone star ticks are out and will be present through July.

Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday decided to stay the course after revisiting their decision to back an expanded deer hunting season on the Island.

Amid growing concern about Lyme disease, selectmen in Edgartown, Aquinnah and West Tisbury this week agreed to join the call for adding another two-week deer hunt next January.

Selectmen in Oak Bluffs and Chilmark last night threw their full support behind a plan to add a second two-week shotgun season for deer in January next year.

The spread of disease-carrying ticks on Martha’s Vineyard is a public health crisis, a biologist and longtime Island physician said this week.