New firearms law and hunting
Significant changes have been made to Massachusetts firearms laws. Go to mass.gov/hunting-with-firearms for information about how this will impact hunting. Contact the MA Firearms Records Bureau for information about firearms licenses and firearms laws.
Mussel movers: Prepping for dam removal
The Quinapoxet Dam on the lower Quinapoxet River in West Boylston will be removed to restore natural fish passage, enhance recreational opportunities, and improve aquatic habitats. To prepare for the removal, slated to begin this fall, MassWildlife worked with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) to protect freshwater mussels from short-term impacts of the project by relocating mussels upstream.
Freshwater mussels spend most of their lives filter feeding on stream and river bottoms and only travel a few feet throughout their entire adulthood. While dam removal projects are carefully planned to minimize and mitigate impacts to aquatic habitats, disturbance of the streambed is unavoidable. The Quinapoxet Dam removal project includes reconstruction of the stream bottom that mussels would not be able to survive because of their limited mobility.
The relocation efforts were focused on eastern pearlshell mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera, also known as freshwater pearl mussels) that are found near the dam removal site. Although eastern pearlshells are thriving in the Quinapoxet, all freshwater mussels in the Northeast face a variety of serious threats. Protecting this healthy population of mussels is a vital part of conservation efforts in Massachusetts and across the region.
In early September, dozens of volunteers joined staff from MassWildlife, DCR, and DER to move eastern pearlshells from areas near the dam to select areas upstream in the Quinapoxet River. Using view buckets (5-gallon buckets with Plexiglass bottoms), masks and snorkels, and keen eyes, the group searched approximately 500 linear feet of stream. Mussels were counted, placed in mesh bags, transported in coolers, and carefully placed in suitable habitat along a 1,000-foot stretch of river. In total, 1,636 eastern pearlshells of various sizes (0.75–4 inches) were moved to safety. To estimate the success of the effort, MassWildlife tagged 100 of the relocated mussels and will survey the river over the next several years.
The 250-foot-long, 18-foot-high Quinapoxet Dam was built in 1905 and is now obsolete. Dam removals like this one benefit a variety of aquatic animals and habitats and helps build resilience against future stressors in the watershed. Relatively small actions like relocating and monitoring the eastern pearlshell population in the Quinapoxet can make a big difference to mussel conservation in the region. The eastern pearlshell is considered a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Massachusetts and in the region and is globally considered endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Freshwater mussels are a vital part of aquatic systems. As filter feeders, they remove algae, bacteria, and fungi from the water. They also cycle nutrients and provide food for other invertebrates and fish. Unfortunately, freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in North America. Of the 12 freshwater mussel species in Massachusetts, 6 are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Historical and ongoing degradation of habitat, water quality, water quantity, and inaccessibility to fish hosts caused by human activities (e.g., climate change, water extraction, dams, development) threaten the Commonwealth’s freshwater mussels.
Celebrate Bat Week
Bat week starts October 24. Get into the spirit by dispelling outdated bat myths and learning more about the threats facing these harmless and fascinating flying mammals.
You know what's scary? Losing our endangered species! Bat week starts October 24 and is designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation and to celebrate the role of bats in nature.
The Commonwealth is home to 9 species of bats and 8 of those are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). Bats have long been underappreciated and they need our help. Populations have declined significantly over the last few decades due to disease and human activity. What we think we know about these fascinating creatures is often riddled with myths and misconceptions. Dispelling irrational fears about bats is the first step towards appreciating these amazing creatures. Together, let’s debunk some common bat myths.
Bat myths
Myth: Bats are blind.
Fact: Bats can see as well as other mammals, and some bats can see up to three times better than humans. At night, most bats rely on echolocation to find prey in the dark by sending out ultrasonic sound waves and listening for echoes. Therefore, bats essentially ‘see’ with both their eyes and ears!
Myth: All bats suck blood.
Fact: Most bats are insect-eaters and they consume large numbers of pesky mosquitoes. Only 3 of the world's 1,400 bat species are vampire bats. Vampire bats live in Mexico, Central America, and South America and lick blood from animals like cattle.
Myth: Bats are dirty.
Fact: Bats are very clean and groom themselves regularly like cats to keep their fur soft and silky. Some bats even groom each other!
Myth: Bats attack people and get tangled in your hair.
Fact: Bats are afraid of people and avoid them. Bat echolocation is highly sophisticated and enables them to detect obstacles as fine as human hair, therefore easily avoiding your head. If a bat gets close to a human, it’s usually because they are curious about insects that are naturally attracted to people.
Myth: All bats have rabies.
Fact: Any mammal can contract rabies, but less than one-half of 1% of bats carry rabies. Rabies is a dreaded disease, but fortunately, it is extremely rare in bats. With rigorous rabies vaccination programs in place in the United States, there are only about two human rabies cases per year, and these are now most often from exposure to wildlife. The frequency of human rabies cases associated with bats in the United States and Canada is estimated to be about one case per 143 million people per year. Far more people die from dog bites, bee stings, or lightning strikes than rabies infections caused by bats. Fewer than 40 people in the United States are known to have contracted rabies from bats during the past 40 years.
Myth: Bats are just flying mice. (The German word for bat is even “Fledermaus,” which translates to flying mouse.)
Fact: Although bats are small like most rodents, they are classified as their own unique order of mammals called Chiroptera, which means “hand-wing” in Greek. Bats are more closely related to humans than they are to mice. Bats also do not nest, chew, or claw their way into structures like mice do. Also, most mice and other rodents only live for 1–3 years. One little brown bat is known to have lived in the wild for 33 years! Furthermore, female bats of most bat species give birth to only one pup per year, whereas mice give birth to many offspring multiple times per year.
The moral of the story: Don’t let bat myths spook you! Contrary to popular belief, bats are friendly, useful creatures. Help spread the message that these remarkable animals are truly beneficial to the health of our environment.
How you can help
- Educate yourself and others about bats by learning about the variety of threats they are facing in Massachusetts and across the country.
- Help provide safe, warm roosting sites for females to raise their young. Create a bat-friendly backyard by leaving old, dead, or dying trees standing to provide natural roost sites. Or, if you’re handy, learn how to build and install a bat house.
- Support bats and other rare species in Massachusetts by donating to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
- If you must exclude or evict bats from your home, ensure the process is safe and humane by following MassWildlife’s recommendations found in the Massachusetts Homeowner's Guide to Bats.
- Be a citizen scientist. If there is a colony of 10 or more bats on your property, use our online form to report it. Colonies may be found in trees, buildings, attics, barns, sheds, or other outbuildings. This information will be used to help conserve the state’s endangered population of little brown bats.
5 ways to get outside this fall
Want to have some fun in nature this fall but don’t know where to start? Grab your binoculars and enjoy the outdoors with these five autumn activities.
1. Spot hawks heading south for winter
Every fall, hawks move through Massachusetts as they migrate to their southern wintering areas. Although the broad-winged hawk migration peaks in mid-September (when large groups of that species are sometimes seen in a single kettle), the accipiters (Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks) and turkey vulture primarily move through in late September and October. Favorable weather for migrating hawks includes the arrival of a cold front with clear skies and winds from the north. When planning your hawk watching adventure, visit an area with an open view to the north or northwest anytime between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wachusett Mountain State Reservation in Princeton, Mount Tom in Easthampton, Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, and Pinnacle Rock of Middlesex Fells Reservation in Malden are excellent lookout locations for hawk watching enthusiasts. Be sure to bring warm clothing! Visit our wildlife viewing guide for more tips for wildlife watching.
2. “Fall” for fishing
Fall is a fantastic time to fish. With fewer crowds, many autumn anglers find they have plenty of room to fish on their favorite ponds, rivers, and lakes. Want to target trout? This fall, MassWildlife will stock over 73,000 trout in waterbodies across the state. Fall stocking, when combined with trout stocked in the spring, provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy a day on the water. Once stocking starts, visit Mass.gov/Trout for daily updates. Prefer to fish for bass? Bass fishing in Massachusetts heats up as water temperatures cool down in the fall. Bass feed heavily as water temperatures drop from the 70s down to the 50s. Fall could be your chance to catch the “fish of a lifetime”! Remember, you need a fishing license if you’re 15 or older.
- Get a fishing license.
- Find a place to fish near you.
- Find top fishing spots near scenic Wildlife Management Areas.
- Get fall-specific tips for targeting trout and bass.
3. Ship out on a whale watching tour
May through October is considered the best time to go whale watching in Massachusetts. This is when humpback, minke, and finback whales are in the North Atlantic to feed along the New England coast in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Gloucester, Plymouth, Provincetown, and Boston are all popular Massachusetts whale watching destinations. Heading out on a whale watch also gives you the opportunity to see a wide variety of marine species, including dolphins, seals, sharks, sea turtles, porpoises, and sea birds. Consider bundling up to take a last-minute tour to see these impressive animals before many of them migrate south for the winter.
4. Take a foliage drive
Worried about rainy or cold weather? Enjoy Massachusetts’ famous fall foliage from the comfort of your vehicle with these delightful drives.
- Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway: Western Massachusetts is home to one of the nation’s first designated scenic byways. In addition to fall foliage, the 69-mile Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway includes stops to hike, camp, bike, and visit historic downtowns. Plan your road trip.
- Mount Greylock: Drive up to the highest point in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock, to experience unforgettable leaf peeping panoramic views at 3,491 feet. While the 16-mile scenic byway to the summit is typically open from mid-May to November 1, check for potential road and trail closures beforehand.
Pro tip: This is a popular fall destination. To avoid crowds, visit during off hours or on a weekday. - Essex Coastal Scenic Byway: Pair fall foliage and ocean views with a scenic drive along 14 coastal communities in northeast Massachusetts. The 90-mile Essex Coastal Scenic Byway can lead you to unique lighthouses, sandy beaches, and numerous cultural districts. Map out your perfect drive.
5. Catch a glimpse of “the comet of the century”
When spending time outdoors, it can be easy to forget to look up. But October’s sky is set to put on a show you don’t want to miss. A comet named Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as Comet A3, is expected to pass between the Earth and Sun this fall and should be bright enough to see with the unaided eye or with binoculars. The comet will start to be visible before sunrise in late September and early October, but it may be difficult to see as it will be dim and close to the horizon. Starting around October 12, Comet A3 will be visible after sunset and should be brighter and higher up in the sky. In addition to this exciting celestial event, October also has the annual Hunter’s Moon (October 17, 2024), thought to bring an early full light that helps with hunting.
Watch for wildlife on the road this fall
Because fall is the breeding season for both moose and white-tailed deer, MassWildlife reminds motorists to be mindful of increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours. Moose, found in central and western parts of Massachusetts, breed in September and October. White-tailed deer breed from late October to early December.
Moose on the road are especially hazardous. The dark color and height of moose make them difficult to see in low light; moose eyes rarely shine like deer eyes because their eyes are above headlight level. In addition, long legs and heavy top bodies make moose very dangerous to motorists when struck. Observe road signs for moose and deer crossings and slow down. Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer because it may lead to more risk and damage than hitting the deer. Moose are less likely to move from the road than deer, so stay alert and brake when you see a moose in or near the road.
Deer and moose/vehicle collisions should be reported to the Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075. In the event of a deer/vehicle collision, the driver or passengers of the vehicle involved (MA residents only) may salvage the deer by bringing it to a MassWildlife Office to be officially tagged.
Not-so-spooky spiders you may see in your backyard
Spiders are often associated with Halloween, but most of these arachnids are nothing to be scared of. Learn about three harmless spider species and how they benefit our ecosystems.
With eight legs, many eyes, and the ability to move around unnoticed, it’s understandable that spiders give many people the “heebie jeebies”. Although all spiders have venom, the overwhelming majority are harmless to people and pets because their fangs cannot break through our skin. Spiders also play an important role in the ecosystems they live in. Sitting in the middle of the food web (pun intended), spiders help control insect populations, including pests like aphids and mosquitoes. They are also a food source for birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
To make spiders a little less spooky, we’d like to introduce you to 3 harmless spiders you may encounter in Massachusetts.
Bold jumping spider
Frequently featured in internet memes because of their large eyes, bold jumping spiders (Phidippus audax) have excellent vision and depth perception. Using their 8 eyes to search for small insects, bold jumping spiders sneak up and jump on their prey to catch them. There are about 300 species of jumping spiders that live in North America and the bold jumping spider is the most common. They get their moniker because they can jump 10–40 times their body length.
Female bold jumping spiders are larger than males, measuring 8–15 mm in length compared to the males at 6–13 mm. The dense bodies, thick legs, and hairy appearance of these spiders may seem spooky but they aren’t dangerous to humans or pets. In fact, these spiders are beneficial to farmers because they eat so many major crop pests.
Common house spider
The common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) gets its name simply because it is found commonly in homes. They may even make a great roommate as they are known for eating small insects and household pests. These spiders use a traditional web to catch their food and wait to feel the vibrations on their web before collecting their meal. Males and females will share a web for long periods of time and females often build webs close to one another.
Common house spiders can vary greatly in their coloration, usually ranging from tan to nearly black. Males average 3–5 mm long while females are larger at 5–6 mm. They use their small size and their ability to blend in to hide from potential predators. They are not considered dangerous to humans.
Yellow garden spider
Named for their striking color, yellow garden spiders (Argiope aurantia) are expert weavers and can construct a large and complex web in short time. They like to build their webs in areas protected from the wind and can often be spotted in the eaves of houses. They may be seen shaking their web while sitting in the middle which may protect them from predators or ensnare their prey before they can escape. After prey get caught in their web, yellow garden spiders wrap it in silk, inject venom into its body to kill it and liquefy its organs, and save it to eat later. This may sound pretty spooky, but rest assured that yellow garden spiders are not aggressive towards people and their venom does not affect us.
Males and females are sexually dimorphic, meaning that males and females look different. The females can be 3 times as large as males with an average body length reaching up to 25 mm (the diameter of a quarter). Females are also more noticeable with more yellow on their bodies than males. These spiders are not only fascinating to watch, but they also eat many garden pests such as grasshoppers, wasps, and beetles.
The next issue of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine features a story all about the yellow garden spider. Subscribe today at mass.gov/dfw/magazine.
All outdoor users: Wear blaze orange this fall
Hunting is a safe activity. The widespread use of blaze orange has helped dramatically reduce hunting-related firearms incidents in the field. While hunters are required to wear blaze orange during certain seasons, all outdoor users who are in the woods during hunting seasons should wear blaze orange clothing as a precaution. If you're curious about the effectiveness of blaze orange, watch the short video above for an eye-opening demonstration. If you plan to enjoy the outdoors during hunting season, review these tips:
Tips for non-hunters
- Know when and where hunting is allowed. Review the 2024 Massachusetts hunting season dates. Hunting on Sunday is not permitted in Massachusetts. MassWildlife lands, including Wildlife Management Areas and Wildlife Conservation Easements are open to hunting. Most state parks and forests are open to hunting, and many towns allow hunting on municipal lands. Learn about lands open to hunting in Massachusetts. Research the property you plan to visit beforehand to learn if hunting is allowed. If being in the woods during hunting season makes you uneasy, find a location where hunting is not allowed or plan your outing for a Sunday or another day outside of hunting season.
- Keep pets leashed and visible. Place a blaze orange vest or bandana on your pet to keep it visible.
- Make your presence known. Talk loudly or whistle to identify yourself as a person. You may also consider wearing a bell. If you see someone hunting or hear shots, call out to them to identify your location.
- Be courteous. Once you've made your presence known, don't make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife or hunting. Hunter harassment is against state law. Avoid confrontations with hunters. If you think you've witnessed a fish or wildlife violation, report it to the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075.
Tips for hunters
Hunting is among the safest of all recreational activities. You can help keep it that way by always following the 10 basic rules of firearms safety.
Wearing blaze orange is a legal requirement during some hunting seasons. Some hunters may worry that wearing blaze orange will hurt their chances of harvesting an animal. While deer are not colorblind, they lack the ability to detect colors like red and orange from green and brown. Wearing blaze orange will not matter to the deer, but may save your life.
- All hunters during shotgun deer season and deer hunters during the primitive firearms season must wear at least 500 square inches of blaze orange material on their chest, back, and head. (Exception: coastal waterfowl hunters in a blind or boat.)
- All hunters on Wildlife Management Areas during the pheasant or quail season on WMAs where pheasant or quail are stocked must wear a blaze orange cap or hat. (Exception: waterfowl hunters in a blind or boat, and raccoon and opossum hunters at night.)