News  Citizen science helps endangered species

Massachusetts has 427 rare animals and plants protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program conserves and protects these vulnerable native animal and plant species. And you can help! Record your observations using the Vernal Pool & Rare Species (VPRS) online system. Through VPRS, people from all over Massachusetts help keep the database of species information current. Information from this database helps the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program determine when alternations are needed in species conservation planning.

The NHESP also administers the state’s official vernal pool certification program and the VPRS system can be used to submit your certification applications. Vernal pools are temporary bodies of water that many amphibians and invertebrates use for breeding, including endangered species like the eastern spadefoot..

You’ll need some specific information to have a fully filled out observation in VPRS. When you see a vernal pool, or rare plant or animal, make sure to include:

• the location (as exact as possible)
• date
• additional proof, like a picture or audio recording

Sign up for VPRS and learn more about VPRS.