Wildlife

Wildlife is generally refered to as any living organism, including non-domesticated plants. Wildlife lives in a free condition, providing for its own food, shelter and other needs in environments that provide suitable habitat. Wildlife refers to species that are not domesticated, and include (but is not limited to) wild orchids, spiders, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and mammals.

Topics covered in this section of the Envirothon Guide include:
habitat, biodiversity, food chains and webs, nutrient exchange, population dynamics, wildlife management, carrying capacity, rare and endangered species, laws and regulations, wildlife diseases, wildlife resources, and legislation.

USEFUL LINKS

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

To obtain information on MA mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians, hunting, fishing, & migratory bird abstracts, trapping & furbearer regulations.

Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping (1.5 MB) - This publication for hunters and anglers is updated annually with information on hunting and fishing seasons, bag and creel limits, summaries of laws and regulations, and other information. This version is a stripped-down version of the full color document and is ADA compliant.

Pocket Reference Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping (968 KB)-- This is an external link to the Guide's publisher. A handy 4-page color publication containing only the hunting, fishing and trapping seasons and bag limits, Sportfish Awards information, Sunrise-Sunset table and contact information for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Environmental Police.

Trapping and Furbearer Regulations - All regulations and laws pertaining to trapping during the furbearer seasons are in this publication. This document is also available in hard copy at District offices and the Westborough office.

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations - This publication contains the hunting seasons and bag limits for migratory birds (ducks, geese, woodcock and other birds). These regulations are set annually by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board in late August.

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program

NHESP is responsible for the conservation and protection of hundreds of species that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or commercially harvested in the state. The Program's highest priority is protecting the 176 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals and 259 species of native plants that are officially listed as Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern in Massachusetts.

Using Field Guides

Wildlife Key Points

USEFUL RESOURCES

Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators
The Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators is designed for classroom teachers and informal educators in parks, refuges, forest lands, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, etc., and is targeted toward the middle school grade level. The new case studies and activities have been reviewed by scientists and educators in seven agencies (U.S. EPA, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USDA/Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management) involved in the creation of the Toolkit. The agencies developed the Toolkit to aid educators in teaching how climate change is affecting our nation's wildlife and public lands, and how everyone can become a "climate steward." The Toolkit is available at: http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/educators/toolkit.

Field Guide to New England
National Audubon Society Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, 1998 Peterson's Guides to mammals, birds, freshwater fish, reptiles & amphibians, and insects

Tracking and the Art of Seeing, How to Read Animal Tracks and Signs
Paul Rezendes, Camden House Publishing, Inc. 1992

Field Guide to Skulls and Bones of Mammals of the Northeastern United States
by Richard Wolniewicz
Field Guide to Bones Website www.fieldguidebones.com

New England Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History and Distribution
Richard M. DeGraaf & Mariko Yamasaki, University Press of NE, Hanover, NH 2001

A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of MA
Blair Nikula, Jennifer L. Loose and Matthew Burne 2003

Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine
A quarterly publication of various natural resource topics within the Commonwealth.
Cost $6.00/yr or $10.00/2 years. Back issues on desired topics can be obtained for $3.00.
Contact MassWildlife at 508-389-6300

Project WILD & Aquatic WILD
Interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and ecosystems.Activity guide is available through a six-eight hour teacher training workshop.
Contact Project WILD Coordinator, MassWildlife at 508-389-6310

Information pertaining to the wildlife section will be posted here.
For more information please e-mail Pam Landry


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Wildlife Wildlife is generally refered to as any living organism, including non-domesticated plants. Wildlife lives in a free condition, providing for its own food, shelter and other needs in environments that provide suitable habitat. Wildlife refers to species that are not domesticated, and include (but is not limited to) wild orchids, spiders, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and mammals. Topics covered in this section of the Envirothon Guide include: habitat, biodiversity, food chains and webs, nutrient exchange, population dynamics, wildlife management, carrying capacity, rare and endangered species, laws and regulations, wildlife diseases, wildlife resources, and legislation. USEFUL LINKS Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife To obtain information on MA mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians, hunting, fishing, & migratory bird abstracts, trapping & furbearer regulations. Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping (1.5 MB) - This publication for hunters and anglers is updated annually with information on hunting and fishing seasons, bag and creel limits, summaries of laws and regulations, and other information. This version is a stripped-down version of the full color document and is ADA compliant. Pocket Reference Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping (968 KB)-- This is an external link to the Guide's publisher. A handy 4-page color publication containing only the hunting, fishing and trapping seasons and bag limits, Sportfish Awards information, Sunrise-Sunset table and contact information for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Environmental Police. Trapping and Furbearer Regulations - All regulations and laws pertaining to trapping during the furbearer seasons are in this publication. This document is also available in hard copy at District offices and the Westborough office. Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations - This publication contains the hunting seasons and bag limits for migratory birds (ducks, geese, woodcock and other birds). These regulations are set annually by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board in late August. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program NHESP is responsible for the conservation and protection of hundreds of species that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or commercially harvested in the state. The Program's highest priority is protecting the 176 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals and 259 species of native plants that are officially listed as Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern in Massachusetts. Using Field Guides Wildlife Key Points USEFUL RESOURCES Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators The Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators is designed for classroom teachers and informal educators in parks, refuges, forest lands, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, etc., and is targeted toward the middle school grade level. The new case studies and activities have been reviewed by scientists and educators in seven agencies (U.S. EPA, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USDA/Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management) involved in the creation of the Toolkit. The agencies developed the Toolkit to aid educators in teaching how climate change is affecting our nation's wildlife and public lands, and how everyone can become a "climate steward." The Toolkit is available at: http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/educators/toolkit. Field Guide to New England National Audubon Society Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York, 1998 Peterson's Guides to mammals, birds, freshwater fish, reptiles & amphibians, and insects Tracking and the Art of Seeing, How to Read Animal Tracks and Signs Paul Rezendes, Camden House Publishing, Inc. 1992 Field Guide to Skulls and Bones of Mammals of the Northeastern United States by Richard Wolniewicz Field Guide to Bones Website www.fieldguidebones.com New England Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History and Distribution Richard M. DeGraaf & Mariko Yamasaki, University Press of NE, Hanover, NH 2001 A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of MA Blair Nikula, Jennifer L. Loose and Matthew Burne 2003 Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine A quarterly publication of various natural resource topics within the Commonwealth. Cost $6.00/yr or $10.00/2 years. Back issues on desired topics can be obtained for $3.00. Contact MassWildlife at 508-389-6300 Project WILD & Aquatic WILD Interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and ecosystems.Activity guide is available through a six-eight hour teacher training workshop. Contact Project WILD Coordinator, MassWildlife at 508-389-6310 Information pertaining to the wildlife section will be posted here. For more information please e-mail Pam Landry