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MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP)

The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program is responsible for the conservation and protection of hundreds of species that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or commercially harvested in the state, as well as the protection of the natural communities that make up their habitats.

Contact Us

MassWildlife logo

Address

MassWildlife Field Headquarters
1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581
Directions 

Phone

Main (508) 389-6360

Open M-F, 8am-4:30pm

Regulatory Review Inquiries (508) 389-6357

North/Central/Western Massachusetts

(508) 389-6385

Southeastern Massachusetts/Cape & Islands

Online

Email natural.heritage@mass.gov
Support endangered species conservation 
MassWildlife staff directory 
NHESP Jobs & Opportunities 

Fax

(508) 389-7890
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the MA Endangered Species Act 

Who we serve

MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program is responsible for protecting the state's wide range of native biological diversity. Information about species and natural communities, regulations, and how to report your observations are available for citizen scientists, educators, landowners, developers, conservation organizations and other government agencies.

You can help! Support endangered species conservation.

What would you like to do?

Top actions & services

List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species  Report rare species & vernal pool observations   MassWildlife Publications 

More actions & services

MA Endangered Species Act (MESA) Regulatory Review   Species Information and Conservation   Vernal Pools  Land Protection  Natural Communities  Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee  

Recent news & announcements

News

2020 marks 30 years of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act 

12/27/2019 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

MESA helps protect the most vulnerable animal and plant species of Massachusetts and the habitats upon which they depend.

  • News

    In search of the black racer snake 

    6/30/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

    Little is known about the abundance and distribution of northern black racers in Massachusetts. An upcoming Massachusetts Wildlife magazine article follows a group on Martha’s Vineyard as they research these snakes.

  • 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

    Celebrate Endangered Species Day 

    5/13/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

    Endangered Species Day will be observed on May 21. Celebrate by learning more about the peregrine falcon, the fastest bird in the world.

  • 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

    MassWildlife launches new bat house initiative  

    5/01/2021 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

    MassWildlife has launched a new initiative to install bat houses across the state. Learn about the 9 different species of bats found in Massachusetts, and what you can do to help support bat conservation.

See all news and announcements
Image credits:  Piping Plover (Bill Byrne)
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