News and Announcements

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News

New peregrine falcon mural and nest box unveiled in Worcester 

11/03/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Art and conservation combine to raise public awareness of rare wildlife and benefit a pair of resident peregrine falcons in Worcester.

News

Volunteers help clean up Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area 

11/03/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

This fall, the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers coordinated with MassWildlife to organize a clean-up day at Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area.

News

Five MassWildlife staff recognized for assisting with western wildfires 

10/04/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Interagency wildfire crews from the Northeast joined together to battle western blazes this summer. The crews returned safely with new skills to use on the job back home.

News

Invasive snakehead caught in Canton 

9/02/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

This invasive fish was most likely illegally released by a pet owner. This is only the fifth confirmed snakehead recorded in the Commonwealth since 2002.

News

Public Hearing Set for Proposed Pheasant and Quail Regulation Changes 

8/30/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

MassWildlife is holding a public hearing on September 28. Proposed regulations would establish a pheasant/quail permit, eliminate seasonal bag limits, remove rooster-only restrictions, and eliminate registration for pheasant hunting at Martin Burns WMA.

News

Soaring to Success: Peregrine Falcon Conservation 

8/24/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Peregrine falcon restoration began in the late 1970s. MassWildlife continues to monitor nesting success of this resilient and fascinating species.

News

Eaglet dies from rodenticide poisoning 

8/11/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

​​​​​​​Officials from MassWildlife and wildlife veterinarians from Tufts Wildlife Clinic confirmed that in late July, a young bald eagle succumbed to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning.

News

A new view of prescribed fire 

7/29/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

MassWildlife safely conducted 17 prescribed fires this spring to improve wildlife habitat. New this year, MassWildlife is using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (aka UAS or drone technology) to monitor habitat conditions before, during, and after fires.

News

15th Edition Natural Heritage Atlas released August 1 

7/27/2021 MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program

Maps contained in the atlas help protect animals and plants listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act

News

Spadefoot success at Southwick WMA 

7/20/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Six years ago, MassWildlife launched an effort to establish a secure population of the state-threatened eastern spadefoot at Southwick WMA. MassWildlife confirmed this population successfully bred for the first time in July 2021.

News

When geese can't fly 

6/29/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

During the summer, most adult geese molt (shed) their flight feathers. MassWildlife biologists take advantage of this time to round up the flightless geese and collect important data.

News

The mighty oak  

6/29/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Oak trees play a substantial role in the forest food web, but they are not regenerating as successfully as they once did. MassWildlife is trying to change that.

News

Draft Priority Habitat Map of rare species available for public comment 

5/03/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program is accepting public comments on its next edition of the Natural Heritage Atlas. The public can comment on draft priority habitat maps for rare, state-listed plants and animals through 7/3.

News

First bald eagle death in Massachusetts from rodenticides confirmed 

5/02/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

MassWildlife officials recently confirmed that a bald eagle has died from second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) poisoning. While documented elsewhere, this is the first confirmed case of an eagle dying from rodenticide poisoning in MA.

News

Why cutting trees isn't always a bad thing 

5/01/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

From a young age, we're taught planting trees is good for the environment, so alternatively, cutting down trees is bad—right? Well, it's not that simple.