Spring trout stocking begins soon
Get ready, anglers—trout stocking season is just around the corner! This spring, MassWildlife will stock hundreds of thousands of beautiful brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout in over 450 lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams in 264 towns across Massachusetts. Stocking in set to begin mid-March as weather and ice conditions allow. Visit Mass.gov/trout to get daily stocking updates and find a fishing spot near you.
MassWildlife raises trout that are both fun to catch and delicious to eat at its five hatcheries in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. Whether you're a seasoned angler or new to the sport, now is the perfect time to grab your gear and license, find a stocked waterbody near you, and experience the thrill of reeling in a fresh catch.
This year’s fish are bigger and better than ever. While the quantity of stocked trout (measured in total pounds) has remained about the same for the last decade, MassWildlife has been steadily producing larger trout by adjusting hatchery growing techniques. Just ten years ago, less than 60% of stocked trout were over 12 inches—now, over 82% measure over a foot!
Don't forget your freshwater fishing license—buy online at MassFishHunt or by visiting a license vendor location.
MassWildlife March Madness photo contest
We want to see your best wildlife photos! To celebrate our own kind of March Madness, we are having a showdown of photos that best highlight the diverse wildlife found in Massachusetts.
Wildlife photographers: Enter your photo of Massachusetts wildlife by March 11 to compete. Get rules and upload today!
Wildlife lovers: The public will vote on winning photos throughout March. To cast your vote and follow the photo contest bracket, like and follow @MassWildlife on Facebook and follow @Mass.wildlife on Instagram.
The cold doesn't bother us anyways...
With snowbanks towering over homes and bone-chilling winds sweeping across the state, it has been one of the snowiest and coldest winters since 2015. New England wildlife are well adapted to survive the winter, and here at MassWildlife, our staff have discovered that this frigid season can bring a few unexpected benefits!
Wildlife research
Every winter, biologists conduct pellet surveys for Massachusetts’ only native rabbit, the New England cottontail. By analyzing DNA found in fecal pellets, biologists can determine whether the droppings were left by a New England cottontail or a non-native eastern cottontail. This information gives us insight into the presence and abundance of New England cottontails within their habitat in southeastern Massachusetts and southern Berkshire County. When temperatures are low, DNA in the pellets remains intact longer, making testing more reliable. Additionally, fresh snow on the ground makes it easier to spot these small brown pellets among the dense young forests and shrublands where the cottontails live.
MassWildlife biologists also take advantage of the winter months to inspect wood duck nest boxes, which are installed near ponds and wetlands to offer supplemental nest sites for cavity-nesting waterfowl. By checking these boxes in winter, staff can tell whether they were used by wood ducks or another species, like hooded mergansers, the previous spring to lay their eggs. The thickness and condition of eggshell fragments in the box can reveal whether the eggs hatched successfully or if they were lost to predators before fully developing. The widespread ice cover this winter allowed staff to safely access the sites and collect this important data more efficiently.
Habitat
Prolonged cold can deliver surprising benefits to our forests and habitats. Several invasive species in Massachusetts are vulnerable to sustained cold temperatures, including southern pine beetles. Their populations have been increasing on Cape Cod and the Islands for the past decade, making them one of the most destructive forest pests in the Northeast. This winter, temperatures remained cold enough for long enough to kill the majority of the overwintering population. Hemlock woolly adelgid—an aphid-like insect that attacks eastern hemlock trees—also saw a considerable decrease in population this winter. Despite being present in Massachusetts since the 1980s, New England winters have caused periodic adelgid population crashes and allowed hemlocks to persist in our forests.
MassWildlife conducts habitat management activities year-round, including during the winter. Many of our projects require selective tree removal to improve healthy open habitats that are home to declining wildlife. Tree removal work is carefully timed to minimize negative impacts to wildlife; we avoid bird and bat breeding seasons as well as locations with wet soils. A long, cold winter extends the amount of time available for projects that use heavy machinery because the ground remains frozen for longer.
Watch for amphibians on the road
For many Massachusetts residents, spring rain is a reminder of the changing seasons. For smaller Massachusetts natives, like amphibians, spring rains signal it’s time to emerge from winter retreats and migrate to breeding sites or disperse to new areas. 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. With little to no snow cover and the ground thawed in many areas, we expect migrations in milder, lower-elevation parts of Massachusetts to commence with the next warm, rainy night.
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, please consider not driving on rainy nights when air temperatures are 40°F or higher to protect amphibians who are on the move.
- 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.
- 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.
Report winter fish kills
This year's cold winter created more ice cover on ponds, decreasing oxygen levels and potentially causing natural fish kills. Make sure to report fish kills as the temperatures rise.
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 (800) 632-8075. A MassWildlife biologist will review each situation to determine whether the kill is natural or requires a site investigation.
Public Hearing: 2026–2027 Migratory Game Bird Regulations
A public hearing will be held on Monday, April 13 at 6 p.m. via Zoom webinar. The hearing will establish rules and regulations relative to the 2026–2027 migratory game bird hunting seasons. Click this link to register to attend the public hearing. You will receive an email with the instructions for how to join.
Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2026–2027 migratory bird seasons as soon as possible after the close of the hearing. Therefore, please note: There will be no written comment period after this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing via an online comment form. Written comments may also be submitted by mail, to MassWildlife, Attn: Public Hearing Comments, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. Written public comments will be accepted until Thursday, April 9, 2026, 5 p.m.
Click here for full text of proposed rules and regulations. Interested persons can review the proposed changes and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Here is a summary of the proposed changes:
- Woodcock Season: October 1 – November 21
- Youth Waterfowl Hunts: September 26 and October 3
- Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 26 and October 3
- Early Goose Season (statewide): September 1 – September 25
- Regular Goose Season
- Berkshire Zone: October 12 – November 28
- Central Zone: October 10 – November 28 and December 15 – January 2
- Coastal Zone: October 10 – October 17 and November 27 – January 27
- Late Goose Season
- Berkshire Zone: December 15 – February 13
- Central Zone: January 16 – February 13
- North Coastal Zone: January 28 – February 13
- Duck Season
- Berkshire Zone: October 12 – November 28 and December 14 – January 2
- Central Zone: October 10 – November 28 and December 15 – January 2
- Coastal Zone: October 10 – October 17 and November 27 – January 27
- Falconry Season: October 12 – February 12
Support endangered species at tax time
More than 430 plants and animals are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth's natural communities thriving. You can make a difference by supporting endangered species conservation while filing your taxes this year. Simply look for Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation on your state tax form and write in any amount. Your meaningful donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species in the Commonwealth.
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.
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| Date published: | March 2, 2026 |
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