Changes to the list of Endangered, Threatened, & Special Concern species

The status of MESA-listed species is reviewed periodically, and changes may be proposed. A hearing on proposed changes will be held on April 9, 2024.

The status of rare and vulnerable species in Massachusetts is dynamic and may change due to many factors such as:

• our knowledge about their status in the state;
• changes in biological populations; and
• our understanding of their habitat requirements. 

Thus, the status of species on the Massachusetts List of Endangered (E), Threatened (T) and Special Concern Species (SC) is reviewed periodically and some changes may therefore be recommended.   

Listing species in Massachusetts is based on three primary factors:

1. species rarity,
2. population trends, and
3. threats to the species in Massachusetts.  

For more information, please read: Listing Endangered Species in Massachusetts: The Basis, Criteria and Procedure for Listing Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species

Species Listing Proposal Form

2024 MESA List Change Proposals & Recommendations

The following table represents species listing proposals submitted to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) by a staff member, received from the public, or received from a member of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee (NHESAC). 

Taxonomic group	Common Name	Scientific Name	Proposed List Change
MAMMALS	Silver-haired Bat	Lasionycteris noctivagans	not listed → SC
	Eastern Red Bat	Lasiurus borealis	not listed → SC
	Hoary Bat	Lasiurus cinereus	not listed → SC
	Humpback Whale	Megaptera novaeangliae	Withdrawn
HORSESHOE CRABS	American Horseshoe Crab	Limulus polyphemus	not listed → SC
BUTTERFLIES/MOTHS	Golden Borer Moth	Papaipema cerina	not listed → E
	Acadian Hairstreak	Satyrium acadica	not listed → T
BEES	Parnassia Miner Bee	Andrena parnassiae	not listed → T
	Macropis Cuckoo Bee	Epeoloides pilosulus	not listed → T
PLANTS	Bog Sedge	Carex exilis	not listed → T
	Willdenow's Sedge	Carex willdenowii	not listed → E
	Split-leaved Hawthorn	Crataegus schizophylla	not listed → E
	Appalachian Bristle-fern	Crepidomanes intricatum	E → SC
	Pine Barrens Flatsedge	Cyperus retrorsa	not listed → SC
	Frog Orchid	Dactylorhiza viridis	not listed → E
	Velvet Rosette-grass	Dichanthelium scoparium	not listed → E
	Showy Orchid	Galearis spectabilis	not listed → T
	Loesel's Wide-lipped Orchid	Liparis loeselii	not listed → T
	Wild Lupine	Lupinus perennis	not listed → SC
	Winged Loosestrife	Lythrum alatum	not listed → E
	Prickly-pear Cactus	Opuntia cespitosa	Taxonomic split (1 E species → 2 E species)
	Hooker's Orchid	Platanthera hookeri	not listed → E
	Large-leaved Orchid	Platanthera macrophylla	not listed → T
	Round-leaved Orchid	Platanthera orbiculata	not listed → T
	Ogden's Pondweed	Potamogeton ogdenii	E → delist
	Slender Clubmoss	Pseudolycopodiella caroliniana	not listed → E
	Slender Bladderwort	Utricularia subulata	SC → T

 

Public Hearing

On April 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is holding a public hearing via a Zoom video webinar to gather feedback about proposed changes to the MESA list. Oral comment will be accepted at the public hearing. Written public comments will be accepted for 2 weeks after the hearing, until Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Click here to join the meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device with Passcode: 045400. Or join by phone: [phone] with Webinar ID: 834 4450 5762 and Passcode: 045400.

DRAFT - DFW MESA List Regulations 321 CMR 10.09

Written comments may be sent to: 

Chair, Fisheries and Wildlife Board 
c/o Director of MassWildlife 
Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 
1 Rabbit Hill Road 
Westborough, MA 01581 

Comments by e-mail may be sent to [e-mail], to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. 

For more details, please visit: Fisheries and Wildlife Hearings on Proposed Regulatory Amendments.