February 2020
Read MassWildlife's February newsletter
2020 fishing and hunting season summary
February 11 & 13: Beginner Fly Tying Class, Charlton – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on, two-session course offered at the US Army Corps of Engineers Buffumville Dam Field Office (48 Old Oxford Road, Charlton), 7–9 p.m. All tools and tying materials provided. This event is in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers Buffumville. *Open to the public for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory. Please contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309 to register.
February 13: Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Westborough – The February meeting of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be held 1:30–4:30 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA) in the Southwest Meeting Room, Room #103. If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations, please contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342.
February 16: Cheshire Rod and Gun Club and Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth Ice Fishing Derby, Cheshire – This is a family friendly ice fishing event. Come learn how to ice fish or compete in the derby, at both the first and second Hoosac Lakes (also known as Cheshire Reservoir) from sunrise to 4 p.m. Instructors will be on-site to assist at the boat launch area off of Rte. 8 and the causeway between the two lakes off of Farnam Rd. No pre-registration required. Youth fun prizes for first, second, and third place. For more information contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309.
February 18: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough – The February meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, February 18 at 10 a.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA). If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations, please contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342. Anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak must notify the Board 2 weeks prior to the Board meeting; for more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342.
February 19: Family Ice Fishing Clinic, Sudbury – This is a free family friendly learn to ice fish event at Puffer Pond in the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (Winterberry Way, Sudbury), 3–5 p.m. Bring your ice fishing equipment, or borrow ours; equipment and bait will be provided. This event is co-sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. *Open to the public, minimum age is 10. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Jim Lagacy to register at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309. *PLEASE NOTE: Less than 6" of safe ice, rain, or heavy snow will cancel this event.
February 21–23: Springfield Sportsmen's Show, West Springfield – Join MassWildlife at the Springfield Sportsmen's Show at the Eastern States Exposition (1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield). Stop by MassWildlife's booth to purchase your fishing and hunting licenses or ask questions about wildlife and the great outdoors. Click here for more information about the show, including hours and directions.
February 25 & 27: Beginner Fly Tying Class, Belchertown – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on, two-session course offered at MassWildlife’s Connecticut Valley District Office (341 East Street, Belchertown), 6:30–8:30 p.m. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is mandatory. Please contact Jim Lagacy to register at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309.
February 29: MassWildife at the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commission Annual Conference, Worcester – MassWildlife will staff a table in the exhibitor hall providing materials on forest carbon and conservation on agency lands, information on reporting rare species observations. MassWildlife staff will also be presenting sessions on Common Plants in Freshwater Wetlands, MESA Overview and Considerations of Habitat Management, Wildlife Considerations in Lake and Pond Management, and Tools for Commissions.
February 29: Family Ice Fishing Festival, Chesterfield – This is a free learn to ice fish event at Scout Pond – Tolgy Wood (the old Chesterfield Scout Reservation at Sugar Hill Road in Chesterfield), 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Bring your ice fishing equipment, or borrow ours; equipment and bait will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is in cooperation with the Western Massachusetts Boy Scout Council. *Open to the public. No pre-registration required. For more information contact Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309. *PLEASE NOTE: Less than 6" of safe ice, rain, or heavy snow will cancel this event.
February 29: Turkey Calling Workshop, Westborough – Join MassWildlife and turkey calling experts from the National Wild Turkey Federation for a free calling workshop! There will be three calling rooms: one for box calls, pot (or slate) calls, and mouth calls. Participants will get to move from room to room working on each type of call with experienced turkey callers. MassWildlife will provide practice calls, or you can bring your own! This event will be from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough). Space is limited; please click here to register.
March 2020
2020 fishing and hunting season summary
March 3: Climate Refugia Webinar – Join MassWildlife Stream Biologist Project Leader Rebecca Quiñones, MassWildlife Habitat Planning Coordinator Brian Hawthorne, and NE Climate Science Center Research Ecologist Toni Lyn Morelli for a webinar on climate change refugia at 12 p.m. This webinar is part of the Climate Change Response Framework's Forest Adaptation Webinar Series. Click here to register.
March 7: All About Bats, Ashburnham – Bats are fascinating and unique creatures that play a critical role in many environments around the world. However, dramatic population declines have put bats in the spotlight recently. The Ashburnham Conservation Trust Annual Meeting will feature MassWildlife’s Jennifer Longsdorf, Bat Program Coordinator. She will talk about the nine species of bats found in Massachusetts, common myths and facts, their ecological contributions, threats to their survival, and conservation efforts being made to protect bats. You will also learn all about bat houses and how to safely deal with bats in your home. The program is at 11 a.m. at the Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive in Ashburnham. For more details contact the Ashburnham Conservation Trust.
March 8: MassWildlife at Birders Meeting, Worcester – This statewide conference is hosted by Mass Audubon. Birders from around New England attend. MassWildlife will staff a table in the exhibitor hall providing materials on forest carbon and conservation on agency lands, information on reporting rare species observations.
March 10: Family Ice Fishing Clinic, Lancaster – This is a free, family friendly learn to ice fish event at the Lancaster Town beach on Spec Pond (Old Turnpike Road, Lancaster), 5–7 p.m. Bring your ice fishing equipment, or borrow ours; equipment and bait will be provided. This event is co-sponsored by the Lancaster Recreation Department. *Open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Contact the Lancaster Recreation Department at https://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/recreation or (978) 365-3326 Ext. 1108 for more information. *PLEASE NOTE: Less than 6" of safe ice, rain, or heavy snow will cancel this event.
March 11–15: MassWildlife at the Boston Flower & Garden Show – Join MassWildlife at the Boston Flower & Garden Show at the Seaport World Trade Center (200 Seaport Blvd., Boston). Stop by MassWildlife's booth to ask questions about wildlife and the great outdoors. Click here for more information about the show, including hours and directions.
March 17 & 19: Beginner Fly Tying Class, Westborough – Learn the basic skills of tying your own flies during this free, hands-on, two-session course offered at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, 7–9 p.m. All tools and tying materials provided. *Open to the public for beginning fly tiers only, minimum age is 15. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Jim Lagacy to register at jim.lagacy@mass.gov or (508) 389-6309.
March 28: MassWildlife at MA Land Conservation Conference, Worcester – This annual conference is hosted by the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition. MassWildlife will staff a table in the exhibitor hall providing materials on forest carbon and conservation on agency lands and information on reporting rare species observations.
March 31: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough – The March meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held on Tuesday, March 31 at 10 a.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA). If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations, please contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342. Anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak must notify the Board 2 weeks prior to the Board meeting; for more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at (508) 389-6342.
April 2020
2020 fishing and hunting season summary
April 8: Restoring Fire-Influenced Landscapes and Wildlife in Worcester County, Athol – The Athol Bird and Nature Club invites you to join MassWildlife’s Senior Restoration Ecologist Chris Buelow of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program for an interesting discussion of efforts to bring back some rare bird, plants, and insects. This free program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Millers River Environmental Center on 100 Main Street, Athol. His presentation will focus of the role that fire has historically played on the landscape, the effects of fire suppression in these landscapes, and especially restoration efforts underway to bring back these plant communities and associated wildlife. Over the past hundred years, fire has been generally excluded from the landscape, and as a result, many of fire-influenced landscapes have begun to fade and their associated species are now experiencing sharp declines. Approximately 40% of the species listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, such as whip-poor-will, rely on fire for some aspect of their life histories. The program's will include a close look at the ongoing restoration work in the Muddy Brook Valley in Hardwick and the recently initiated restoration in the Priest Brook/Birch Hill area.
April 11: Growing Up WILD, Concord – This interactive workshop is for early childhood educators of children ages 3–7. The activity guide builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills. It includes art projects, music, conservation activities, reading and math connections and much more and Is correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Domains. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the guide and a certificate of completion. Click here for workshop flier. Registration deadline March 28.
May 2020
2020 fishing and hunting season summary
May 17: Run for Wildlife, Westborough – Join MassWildlife for a trail run to protect wildlife on the picturesque Wayne MacCallum WMA in Westborough! Register for the 5K or 10K trail run, or the Kids Fun Run (1 mile). Space is limited so register today at mass.gov/wildlife-run Registration fees: Kids Fun Run ($10), 5K ($25), and 10K ($35). All proceeds will benefit the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund to conserve rare wildlife. Registration closes Sunday, May 10. For more details on this event, including the course, directions, and sponsorship, please visit mass.gov/wildlife-run