MassWildlife Monthly March 2021

News from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

New license fees proposed

For the first time since 1996, MassWildlife is proposing changes to freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping license fees.

“We couldn’t conserve fish and wildlife in Massachusetts without the support of hunters, anglers, and trappers. We recognize this has been a difficult year for everyone, and we don't make this proposal lightly,” said MassWildlife Director Mark S. Tisa. "Responsible fiscal management gave us 25 years without fee increases, however it’s critical for us now to address MassWildlife's current and future financial needs.”  

License fees provide essential support for MassWildlife's education programs, scientific management of fish and wildlife, trout and pheasant stocking, and the management of over 226,000 acres of wildlife lands open to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife watching. 

MassWildlife has scheduled information sessions on March 9, 17, and 25 for the public to ask questions and learn more about MassWildlife's programs, how MassWildlife is funded, and why a license increase is needed. MassWildlife anticipates scheduling formal public hearings later this spring.

View the proposed fees, read FAQs, get info session details, and learn how to provide feedback...

Spring trout stocking

Approximately 450,000 brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout will be stocked this spring from MassWildlife’s five hatcheries located in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. These fish, coupled with the more than 60,000 fish stocked last fall, will provide some excellent fishing in the coming months. Stocking is scheduled to begin in southeastern waters in early March with other regions of the state expected to follow soon after. You can get daily stocking updates at Mass.gov/Trout. Anglers are reminded to purchase their fishing license online using MassFishHunt or by visiting a license vendor location.  

2021 spring trout stocking stats: 

• More than 75% of the trout will be over 12 inches 

• More than 45% of the trout will be over 14 inches 

• More than 48,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches 

• More than 48,000 brown trout will be over 12 inches 

• More than 200,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches 

• More than 500 brown trout and 500 brook trout will be over 18 inches 

• 1,000 brook trout will be over 14 inches 

• All 2,500 tiger trout will be over 14 inches 

Fish safely

Please practice social distancing by keeping 6 feet away from others while fishing. Avoid congregating in parking areas, on boat ramps, or along the shore. Don't share a boat with those outside your household unless it is large enough to allow for social distancing. Avoid busy areas and have a back-up plan if your usual spot is crowded. Please visit to mass.gov/covid19 for the latest Massachusetts information and guidance.

Keystone arches designated national historic landmark

Two keystone arch bridges located within MassWildlife's Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Middlefield and Becket were recently designated as National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). Soaring above the West Branch of the Westfield River, the bridges are an intact segment of the country’s first railroad built to pass over a mountain. The two bridges are part of a series of area stone railroad bridges built for the Western Railroad that ran from Boston to Albany. Major George Washington Whistler is credited with the design and implementation of an unprecedented plan to extend the rail through the central Berkshires by spanning the West Branch of the Westfield River in multiple locations. With only 2,500 National Historic Landmarks in the entire country, this prestigious designation recognizes the structures' significant place in United States history. The federal designation was the result of a combined effort of cultural and conservation partners. An application for Landmark designation to the DOI was filed in 2013 by the Friends of the Keystone Arches and the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee with a unanimous endorsement by MassWildlife's Fisheries and Wildlife Board. 

Anyone willing to do a little hiking can experience some spectacular examples of architecture and railroad history in a beautiful natural setting. In addition to the arches, visitors can enjoy the state's longest free flowing waterway situated in one of the largest blocks of undeveloped landscapes in the region. The West Branch of the Westfield River, a National Wild and Scenic River, is popular among anglers fishing for wild and stocked trout and for experienced kayakers paddling the river rapids. The WMA includes exemplary forested communities of northern woodlands, rich mesic forest, and hickory-hop hornbeam in various stages of growth. Walnut Hill WMA offers excellent opportunities for deer, bear, and turkey hunting. Wildlife viewing prospects include forest dwelling birds such as thrushes, warblers, and woodpeckers. Minks and otters patrol the waterways along with aquatic insects; mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies. Several state-listed species of rare plants and insects have also been documented on the property. 

In an era of human and horsepower, construction of the 150-mile railroad was completed by 3,000 laborers in an incredible two and a half years, opening in 1841. The group of arched bridges located near and within the remote 900+ acre Walnut Hill WMA can be accessed via the 2.5 mile one way Keystone Arch Bridge Trail in Chester. The trail is maintained by the Friends of the Keystone Arches with the permission of MassWildlife. The nearby Chester Factory Village Depot in Chester was also granted National Historic Landmark status. Visitors can stop by the Western Railroad museum in Chester to learn more about the national engineering marvel that the bridges represented at the time. 

MassWildlife's mission to protect wildlife lands across the state has been remarkably successful. Thanks to an unusual partnership, at Walnut Hill WMA the conserved land and water comes with a spectacular added cultural benefit, sure to be appreciated by all who visit.

2021 Youth Turkey Hunt

The 2021 Youth Turkey Hunt Program will be different from previous years. Changes have been made to ensure the safety of volunteers and youth participants in accordance with current COVID-19 guidelines.

The Youth Turkey Hunt Program introduces youth to the world of hunting. After completing program requirements, young adults (aged 12-17) can hunt on a special day with a licensed adult hunter. This year, the mentored hunt will be on April 24, 2021.

The youth turkey hunt seminar provides hunters with specialized turkey hunting training and reinforces concepts from Basic Hunter Education. Young hunters will have the opportunity to practice all aspects of a safe hunt.

Keeping with current COVID-19 guidelines, the youth turkey seminar format has changed for 2021. The traditional seminar has been broken into 2 parts with online options and smaller in-person class sizes. All new participants are required to complete both parts of the seminar. Go to the Youth Turkey Hunt Program page for all the details.

Report species observations, vernal pools, and more with new Heritage Hub system

MassWildlife is pleased to announce the launch of a new online portal called “Heritage Hub” which allows users to report observations of animals and plants, natural communities, and vernal pools. The system can be used to report any species and MassWildlife is especially interested in reports of animals and plants listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. The Heritage Hub is replacing the Vernal Pool & Rare Species Reporting System (VPRS) and makes electronic reporting easier than ever. MassWildlife is grateful for the many citizen scientists, consultants, and researchers who have contributed 21,537 observations to VPRS over the years and we are looking forward to the launch of the new platform. Visit mass.gov/heritagehub to learn more and register for an account. 

The Heritage Hub is a more user-friendly application, improving the functionality from VPRS and offering several new features, including: 

• Updated plant, animal, and vernal pool observation reporting 
• A natural community form 
• Enhanced user interface via a new mobile-responsive platform 
• Streamlined account creation  
• Electronic signature capture 
• Organization accounts management 
• Reporting requirements front-loaded for easier navigation 
• Improved document upload functionality 
• Streamlined negative data reporting 
• Enhanced copy report functionality  
• Modified bulk upload capabilities 

Reports made through Heritage Hub help MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program protect rare animals and plants across Massachusetts. The Heritage Hub was built in collaboration with the Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs IT department. 

Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions

MassWildlife officials are reminding the public that March is the month when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. If you live in northern Middlesex County, Worcester County, western Massachusetts, or other areas where bears have been spotted, it's time to take down your bird feeders. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager. Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. Other species including wild turkeys and coyotes may also frequent bird feeders leading to a variety of nuisance issues. To avoid these problems, MassWildlife asks property owners to be proactive by removing bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost. If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Individuals should also secure bee hives, chickens, and livestock. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or bee hives from bears. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.

There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts and their range is expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears. For more information about black bears in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/bears.

Watch for amphibians on the road

For many Massachusetts residents, spring rain is a reminder of the changing seasons. Time to put away winter gear and break out your Red Sox attire. For smaller Massachusetts natives, like amphibians, spring rains signal it’s time to emerge from winter retreats and migrate to breeding sites. Unfortunately, many of those animals will face the daunting task of having to cross roads to reach their destinations. Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, blue-spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, American toads, spring peepers, four-toed salamanders, northern leopard frogs, and eastern red-backed salamanders are frequently encountered on roads during early spring rains. Weather is always difficult to predict in New England, but so far it appears that migrations may start as soon as early March for some pool-breeding amphibians this year.

These animals can be difficult to see, as they are generally small-bodied and move under the cover of dark. This spring, please be mindful of our amphibians and our natural heritage.

How you can help:

• Please drive cautiously and carefully.
• Whenever possible over the next 2 months, please consider not driving on rainy nights when air temperatures are 40°F or higher. If you must travel during such conditions, delaying beyond the first 2 hours after sunset is recommended.
• Travel on larger highways rather than small, wooded roads if possible. Plan routes that minimize the number of wetlands or vernal pools passed.
• If observing amphibian migrations, consider arriving at your destination prior to sunset, and then conduct your monitoring on foot.
• If assisting amphibians across roadways or handling them for other reasons, be sure your hands are free of lotions, bug repellent, or other chemicals.
• Report high levels of amphibian activity or mortality to the Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife initiative, which compiles data to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on problem roadways.
• If you encounter any of our state-listed rare amphibian species (eastern spadefoot, blue-spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, and marbled salamander), please take a clear photograph of the animal, carefully record the location, and submit an observation report to MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
• Go the extra mile to help preserve amphibian habitat by certifying vernal pools on your property. The data you collect is used to help MassWildlife and local conservation organizations better understand habitat resources for our native amphibians.

The timing of amphibian migrations to breeding pools in Massachusetts each spring can vary by weeks, up to over a month. 

Report winter fish kills

During winter, thick ice and heavy snow cover can result in low dissolved oxygen levels in ponds. With increasing ice and snow packs, there is less light penetration through the water column. This alters chemical and biological processes, often resulting in a winter fish kill. 

The vast majority of fish kills turn out to be caused by a natural event. However, it’s important for biologists to rule out other causes including pollution. Natural fish kills are generally the result of low dissolved oxygen levels (anoxia), spawning stress or fish diseases. Dissolved oxygen depletion is one of the most common causes of natural fish kills. Weedy ponds that are less than 15 feet deep are particularly vulnerable. This can be the case at any time of the year but generally occurs during severe winters or late spring/early summer.

Ice anglers may encounter signs of a low oxygen environment when they drill through the ice and notice the smell of rotten egg or observe sluggish or dying shiners. The odor is hydrogen sulfide gas which is a natural byproduct of low dissolved oxygen environments, and is not likely the result of pollution. Oxygen levels will be return to normal shortly after the ice melts in the spring.

If you observe dead fish, contact the Environmental Police's 24-hour radio room at 1 [phone]. A MassWildlife biologist will review each situation to determine whether the kill is natural or requires a site investigation.  

Save rare wildlife on your taxes

Tax season is here, meaning it’s a great time to help keep Massachusetts wild! One easy way to help endangered animals and plants in the state is by donating on your state tax return. Simply fill in the amount you would like to donate on Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation. All the monies donated go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund, a fund dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species. This Fund supports MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, responsible for the hundreds of species that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in Massachusetts.

Despite its status as the nation’s symbol, bald eagles were targeted and killed for the better part of a century. This intentional killing, coupled with habitat loss and pollutants like DDT, caused breeding bald eagles to disappear from Massachusetts in the early 1900s. Beginning in 1982, MassWildlife and its partners began to relocate young eagles from Michigan and Canada to an area overlooking the Quabbin Reservoir in efforts to reestablish breeding pairs in the state. These relocated eagles were raised by a wildlife management practice known as hacking, in which young birds of prey are raised in an outdoor cage with no direct human contact and later released into the wild. The eaglets came to view the area around the Quabbin as their home turf and when they matured, some of the hacked eagles established breeding territories at the reservoir. In 1989, eight decades after the last historic bald eagle nest was observed in Massachusetts (on Snake Pond in Sandwich), three chicks fledged from two Quabbin nests. Fast forward to now when over 70 territorial pairs of bald eagles were documented in Massachusetts last year! 

While Massachusetts has made considerable progress, 432 plants and animals are still recognized as rare in the state. MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program is the first line of defense for Massachusetts’ most vulnerable plants and animals. Donating to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund ensures continuing conservation for these rare species.

Already filed your taxes, but still want to donate? There are a few other 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.

Thank you for your support!