Trout tips and tricks
Want to catch more trout? Learn how to identify and catch the different types of trout that MassWildlife stocks.
Attract birds to your yard naturally this spring
You don’t need a bird feeder to attract songbirds to your yard or garden. Providing natural food sources and water can benefit wildlife while still providing plenty of viewing opportunities for bird lovers.
MassWildlife strongly advises the public to avoid providing supplemental food for wildlife—that includes backyard birdfeeders. Feeding birds and other wildlife can often cause more harm than good. Feeding wildlife at any time of year teaches them to rely on humans for food, which puts them at a disadvantage for survival. Bird feeders may increase mortality from window strikes and predation by pet cats, some of the largest sources of wild bird mortality in North America. Supplemental feeding also congregates wildlife into unnaturally high densities, which increases the risk of spreading a variety of bacterial and viral diseases among birds. Bird feeders often draw wildlife other than songbirds including bears, coyotes, wild turkeys, and rodents closer to homes.
The good news is that bird and nature lovers can attract birds naturally throughout the year by adding native plants, bird houses, or bird baths. Read the suggestions below to create a bird-friendly yard.
Food
To attract birds naturally, first you need to attract insects. Birds, like the common chickadee, require native trees and plants close to their nest in order to find enough insects to feed their nestlings. To attract more birds to your back yard native fruit-bearing shrubs (like those listed below) are essential, both for the fruit and the insect fauna they support.
Insect friendly and therefore bird friendly vegetation that you can plant in your own yard:
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Oaks—white oaks are the best species to promote native insects
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Black willow and pussy willow
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Black cherry and common chokecherry
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Birches
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Dogwoods
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Hollies
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Elderberry
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Mulberry
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Juniper
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Viburnums
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Shadbush/serviceberry/amalachier
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Blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and aronia berry
A healthy mix of native vegetation will draw a variety of species to your yard. Native trees and shrubs that produce berries (like dogwoods, serviceberries, cherries, blueberry) provide fruit in summer and/or fall and are much more nutritious (high in fats and lipids) than fruits of non-native plants. During the summer when birds are nesting, the young are fed almost exclusively invertebrates like caterpillars. Native plants support a much higher diversity and number of invertebrates than non-native plants. This is especially true with caterpillars, which are the preferred food for young songbirds. Growing native plants in your yard can be the best way to attract many species of birds to the area and increase nesting success for chickadees and other species.
Are you looking to attract hummingbirds? Native species of wild bergamot and red columbine have colorful, tubular flowers that will entice hummingbirds and butterflies! You might also include trumpet honeysuckle, cardinal flower, spotted impatiens, Canada lily, and native azaleas and rhododendrons.
Find a list of native plants to attract birds to your yard by soil type and sunlight preference.
Water
Birds need water for drinking and bathing. To enhance your garden for birds, add a source of water for them like a birdbath or fountain. They are especially attracted to moving to dripping water. Ideally, the water level in artificial birdbaths should be no more than 2 inches deep. A gradual decrease in depth towards the edges allows birds of all sizes to drink and bathe in the depth they prefer. A water drip or wiggler may be added to create the sight and sound of moving water, while deterring mosquitoes. Water should be replaced weekly to keep it clean.
Shelter
Shelter is as critically important as food and water. Birds need a safe place to rest, preen their feathers, and escape when predators are present. Each night, birds settle into dense shrubs or coniferous trees to sleep. Providing these refuges in your yard is another way to attract birds. Consider adding wood or wicker bird houses for nesting in the summer and roosting during cold winter nights.
Additional tips
We all like to keep a well-maintained yard. But birds like things a little more on the wild side! Leave small piles of branches and leaves around your yard. These will attract ground-dwelling invertebrates—perfect for birds like American robins and northern flickers. The brush piles provide shelter for bird species like the Carolina wren. Decomposing piles will replenish nutrients to your soil over time. When possible, don't cut down dead trees, also called snags. Snags are favored foraging and nesting places for many species of birds.
Watch for turtles on the road
Across Massachusetts, spring is the season of movement. Hibernating animals emerge from their winter resting areas in search of food and mates. Turtles are no exception. From mid-May to early July, thousands of turtles throughout Massachusetts travel to new areas to find food and nest. You may find turtles on roadways, in your backyard, or other unexpected locations as they move across the landscape to find resources they need to survive. Even if it’s not apparent to you where they’re headed, turtles have a keen sense of direction and may be on their way to wetlands or open, upland sites such as lawns, gravel pits, or roadsides for nesting. If you find a turtle, do not move it far away.
“Adult turtles can live past 80 years. Young turtles and eggs, on the other hand, have a variety of predators and a low chance of reaching adulthood,” says Dr. Mike Jones, MassWildlife State Herpetologist. "This is why it's especially important to protect older adult turtles from cars, especially during this time of year when turtles are crossing roads more frequently." Losing any adult turtles, particularly adult females, is a serious problem that can lead to the eventual local extinction of a population.
- Be safe. Do not risk getting hurt or causing harm to others by unsafely pulling off the road or trying to dodge traffic. If the opportunity to safely move a turtle from the road occurs, move it in the direction it was heading and off the edge of the road. The turtle is trying to get to habitats and resources it needs and knows. Do not take turtles home or move them to a "better” location; turtles should not be moved more than 100 yards from where they are found.
- How to handle turtles: Most turtles should be grasped gently along the shell edge near the mid-point of the body. However, snapping turtles are fast and have very powerful jaws that can inflict a bad bite. A snapping turtle can reach your hands if you lift it by the sides of its shell. If you must move a snapping turtle, use a broom to coax it into a plastic tub or box. Never lift a snapping turtle only by the tail; this can injure their spine.
- Slow down. Watch for turtles on roadways bordered by wetlands on both sides. These areas are commonly used as crossing points. Also, remember areas where you’ve seen turtles crossing in the past. Turtles are animals of repetition and chances are, more turtles will likely cross there or somewhere close by.
- Inform us. If you see turtles crossing the road, report it! Information that you provide on the Linking Landscapes online portal helps MassWildlife and MassDOT prioritize transportation projects to help turtles and other wildlife safely cross roads and keep drivers safe. Just as importantly, contact your town Conservation Commission and local conservation partners to evaluate resources within your town to help turtles. Signage, barrier fencing, or seasonal speed bumps help reduce roadkill.
In addition to five species of sea turtles that frequent our coastal areas, Massachusetts is home to ten native species of terrestrial and aquatic turtles. Six of the ten species are protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Learn more in our Guide to Turtles of Massachusetts.
Take mom fishing!
A family fishing trip is a fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day and get everyone together for an outdoor adventure. With the right preparation, you can help make Mother’s Day fishing the perfect gift.
Tips to have the best experience:
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Pick the perfect place. Mom deserves quality time in a scenic area this Mother’s Day. To find places to fish near you, use our Go Fish MA! interactive map. Filter for "featured sites" (using the gray icon in the bottom center of the map) to see some of the spots staff recommend for easiest access. To make a day of it, state parks are also a great option. They often offer extra amenities like picnic tables, grills, walking trails, and bathrooms. To go fishing with younger children, try a place closer to home, and look for open space with enough room for kids to cast.
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Get your gear ready. Pack everything the day before, and let mom relax. Remember to bring your sunscreen, bug spray, and mom's favorite snacks! Click here for a list of recommended items to get started fishing.
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Buy her fishing license as a gift, and tuck it into a handmade card. This gift keeps on giving, as licenses are valid through the end of the year. Kids younger than 15 can fish for free without a license. Licenses are also free for anglers ages 15–17 and anglers ages 70 and older. Get your fishing licenses here.
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Take lots of pictures! Capture that perfect action shot of mom reeling in her catch. Take group selfies to remember the day. Please tag us on social media, so we can see how much fun you’re having! Find us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Plan extra activities. Keep everyone entertained by adding a nature walk, or bringing toys, binoculars, frisbees, playing cards, and anything else your family enjoys.
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Prepare a meal. If someone reels in a keeper, consider bringing it home to make a nice meal for mom. Click here for tips on cooking and preparing fish.
Time on the water with mom doesn’t have to just last one day. Get out as often as you can, to keep making memories and reeling in those fish!
Wear your life jacket when boating this spring
With nearly 1,500 miles of coastline, four major river systems, and hundreds of lakes and ponds, Massachusetts offers great opportunities to get out on the water. As warmer weather arrives, and to recognize National Safe Boating Week (May 21–27), the Massachusetts Environmental Police and MassWildlife remind boaters and anglers to put safety first by wearing life jackets.
Warmer days of spring can often mask water temperatures that are still dangerously cold. If you capsize or fall overboard, you can develop hypothermia within minutes. Hypothermia, the lowering of your internal body temperature, can make it difficult for you to swim, paddle, or stay afloat. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water can also cause you to involuntarily gasp and ingest water, which can lead to death by drowning. Your life jacket may not prevent hypothermia, but it will help you stay afloat, and it can save your life. Boating fatality victims were often not wearing life jackets.
Safety advocates recommend all boaters and passengers have a life jacket and wear it at all times while boating.
In Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by:
- Canoeists and kayakers from September 15 to May 15
- Youth under 12 years old
- Personal watercraft users
- Water skiers
- Stand-up paddleboard users
Plant a bumblebee-friendly garden
Spring is here, and that means many people are starting to plan and plant gardens and flowerbeds around their homes. Many native bumblebee species are in decline and can benefit from thoughtful gardening choices. Before you start planting, review the tips below to ensure your yard is a welcoming place for native bumblebees and other pollinators.
The decline of bumblebees
The number of bumblebee species in Massachusetts has dropped from 11 to 7, with 3 of the 7 (B. fervidus, B. terricola and B. vagans) in danger of disappearing from the state in the next decade if current trends continue. These losses can have devastating consequences for native biodiversity with cascading impacts across the ecosystem. The diversity of bumblebees impacts the diversity of native plants. In turn, these native plants provide food and homes to an array of insects and animals.
Multiple threats are contributing to the decline of bumblebees. Some threats, like introduced parasites, are very difficult to combat directly. Luckily, the effects of these threats may be offset by measures such as providing more habitat by planting a bumblebee-friendly garden.
Planting tips
- Avoid pesticide use, particularly those containing neonicotinoids.
- Avoid cultivars of native plants which don’t produce floral nectar. In most plants, you can check for nectar by removing the flower from the base and squeezing it—a bubble of clear liquid means it has nectar. For species with a nectar spur, you can check for nectar by placing a light source behind the flower.
- Avoid exotic plants—they can have dramatic negative effects on bumblebee-native plant relationships and can contribute to bumblebee decline.
- Design plantings to ensure nectar and pollen are available for bumblebees throughout the entire growing season.
- Create nesting and overwintering sites. A dry, protected cavity containing straw, small clumps of moss, and/or dried grass located on or below the ground is ideal.
- Diversity matters! Bee abundance is not the same as bee diversity. Observe visiting bumblebees and notice if there are different species of bees.
Recommended native plants* for bumblebees
All bumblebees need adequate sources of floral nectar and pollen throughout their life cycle to keep populations humming. A truly bumblebee-friendly garden needs a variety of native plants that flower throughout the growing season.
- Aster (Eurybia macrophylla, Symphyotrichum laeve, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
- Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa)
- Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor)
- Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
- Carolina rose (Rosa carolina)
- Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium, Apocynum cannabinum)
- Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis, Solidago odora, Solidago rugosa)
- Joe-pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
- Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba, Spiraea tomentosa)
- Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias syriaca, Asclepias tuberosa)
- Old field toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis)
- Spiked lobelia (Lobelia spicata)
- St. John’s Wort (Hypericum canadense, Hypericum punctatum)
- Spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)
- Swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- Pasture thistle (Cirsium pumilum)
- Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
- Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana)
- Wild yellow indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
- Wild raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
*Please note: Common plant names are provided in this list for easy reference, but always double check the species you purchase is native! Use the "GoBotany" tool to look up if a species is native.
More ways to help bumblebees
Share what you’re seeing in your garden and help scientists learn about the food source and habitat requirements of different species of bumblebee. The "Bee-cology" Project is a citizen science initiative that is crowdsourcing information about Massachusetts bumblebees. Learn more about the project and how to submit your observations.
Learn more
Learn more about bumblebee research in Massachusetts by reading "Amplifying the Hum of the Bumblebee" (Massachusetts Wildlife, Vol. 67 No. 3, 2017)
Celebrate Endangered Species Day May 20
May 20 is Endangered Species Day! Join MassWildlife on this special day to recognize the 432 plants and animals that are considered rare in Massachusetts. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth's natural communities thriving. MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) focuses on conserving rare species and their habitats throughout Massachusetts. Check out our rare species success stories.
On Endangered Species Day and every day of the year, you can make a difference in rare species conservation!
Report rare species
Help MassWildlife monitor rare plants and animals by telling us when you see them. If you have information on the location of a rare species or a vernal pool and would like to help NHESP keep its database current, submit your observations through the Heritage Hub.
Donate to support rare species
You can make a big impact by donating directly to NHESP. Please consider making a donation today of $4.32 to honor the 432 animals and plants on the MA Endangered Species Act List. All money donated goes towards conserving the rare animals and plants that call Massachusetts home. Your donation goes toward equipment and services needed to give these species a fighting chance.
There are a few ways you can donate:
- Online with a credit card or electronic check*
- Through your MassFishHunt account
- By check made payable to "Comm. of MA—NHESP" and mailed to: MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581
*You will be redirected to our payment portal with nCourt, LLC.
New funding to restore trout streams from specialty license plate
The leaping brook trout license plate has been available to motorists since 1998, and has provided funding for grassroots conservation efforts through the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) for many years. Thanks to a new agreement, the plate now also provides funding for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) to target high-priority restoration efforts in trout streams.
Eastern brook trout, the only type of wild trout native to Massachusetts, are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan and require cold, clean water to thrive. Brook trout are an important recreational resource for anglers, and their presence is considered an indicator of high-quality coldwater habitat. Unfortunately, wild trout in Massachusetts are at risk from warming water temperatures, changes in stream flow, and disruptive human activities on the landscape, like dams and culverts that block their movements.
“The conservation projects funded through the brook trout license plate will complement and advance MassWildlife’s existing efforts to manage and restore coldwater habitats in Massachusetts,” said Todd Richards, MassWildlife’s Assistant Director of Fisheries. “As climate change and habitat degradation increasingly threaten habitats for wild trout and other coldwater species, it’s more important than ever to bring together partners to conserve these resources.”
Half of the proceeds will go directly to MassWildlife for the conservation and management of coldwater fishery resources, while the remaining funds are distributed through a grants program to other conservation partners that are engaged in management activities that benefit brook trout and their habitats. Funds will be directed to high-priority projects, like those developed to restore habitats and improve fish passage, improve knowledge of coldwater fisheries ecology, and address emerging issues such as climate change.
The plate is available through the Registry of Motor Vehicles to all motorists who are registering a vehicle in the Commonwealth. For motorists who already have a vehicle registered and want this plate, they can visit Mass.gov/myRMV to order one. Like all specialty plates, the cost to the motorist is $40 every two years, in addition to the cost of a standard passenger plate every two years. MET also offers other specialty environmental plates including the striped bass plate, the right whale plate, and the Blackstone Valley plate.