News and Announcements

For Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

October’s Species Spotlight is the little brown bat. Contrary to myths, bats are gentle and intelligent, but human activities and white-nose syndrome have diminished populations in Massachusetts. Learn how to help protect this underappreciated mammal.

Moose and deer are more active during fall breeding seasons.

Ruffed grouse rely on a mixture of young forest habitats for food and cover. With grouse season approaching, hunters will be especially interested in learning the key components of grouse habitat.

With the turkey season extension in effect for fall 2020, archery deer hunters have a new opportunity to hunt both deer and turkey during the entire archery deer season. Read on to get tips for fall turkey hunting and don’t forget your turkey permit!

The MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program provides financial assistance to private and municipal landowners of conserved lands to manage habitat for wildlife and outdoor recreation. Applications must be received by October 16.

Fall trout stocking begins around mid-September. Close to 60,000 rainbow trout that are 12 inches or longer and at least 4,000 brown trout about 9+ inches long will be stocked across Massachusetts this fall.

MassWildlife's Species Spotlight for September is the New England blazing star. Learn more about this persevering flower, how MassWildlife biologists are working to protect this species of special concern, and what you can do to help.

Hunting is a safe activity. Equipped with the right information, non-hunters can feel comfortable using the woods at any time of year.

A number of regional experts report a pronounced increase in the number of rare birds and insects at the site of intensive habitat restoration by MassWildlife.

MassWildlife's Herpetologist captures the live birth of copperheads in the wild!

As marbled salamander breeding season begins, residents are encouraged to implement precautions to prevent accidental salamander mortalities at in-ground swimming pools and to report their sightings of a state-threatened species.

This fall, MassWildlife is leading a series of walks at locations across the Commonwealth. The public is invited to hear from habitat specialists and to view habitat restoration in action on MassWildlife lands.

After nearly two decades, a small population of the state-endangered crested fringed orchid (Platanthera cristata) was recently rediscovered in Bristol County by MassWildlife's botanist.

MassWildlife and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance announce the Massachusetts Collaborative for Private Forestland, which funds habitat management on private lands through the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).

If you harvest a black bear this season, please submit a tooth and hair sample to MassWildlife. Teeth are used to find out a bear's age, and hairs are used to study bear genetics.