Massachusetts houses some of the most incredible biodiversity in America, but unfortunately, some species are at risk due to a number of factors including habitat shrinkage, pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts are essential to protecting these species. Here are some of the most endangered wildlife in Massachusetts.
Roseate Tern
The Roseate Tern is a beautiful seabird that has a rose-colored breast during mating season. Their population has declined after habitat loss and vulnerability to predators. Nesting sites must be protecting to ensure the recovery of both the species and their coastal ecosystems.
Piping Plover
An endangered bird that nests on the sandy beaches of Massachusetts is the Piping Plover. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes, “Piping Plovers are particularly sensitive to human activity during nesting season.” Predator control and beach protection is vital in keeping the population from extinction.
Red Knot
The Red Knots’ population has declined due to the availability of horseshoe crab eggs, which are its primary source of food. The migratory shorebird needs the horseshoe population to be sustained in order for their own population to recover.
Northern Red-Bellied Cooter
The Northern Red-Bellied Cooter is a freshwater turtle found in many ponds and rivers in Massachusetts. Over time, predation and habitat loss have lowered their population significantly. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stresses their protection, “Protecting and restoring aquatic habitats are essential for the survival of the Northern Red-Bellied Cooter.”
Plymouth Redbelly Turtle
The plymouth Redbelly Turtle is a subspecies of the Red-Bellied Cooter and is only found in the southeastern area of Massachusetts. Like other Red-Bellied Cooters, they are endangered and their nests need to be protected in order to conserve their population.
Timber Rattlesnake
The Timber rattlesnake is threatened by habitat loss and human interference. They play an important part of their ecosystem as they control local rodent populations. Education about snakes may help the public better understand these species and not persecute them to the same degree.
Eastern Spadefoot
The Eastern Spadefoot is a toad adapted to dry environments. With their unique adaptations, they need specific environments to breed and have become endangered due to habitat loss. Conservation efforts to preserve their breeding ground will hopefully have their numbers rising in the coming years.
American Burying Beetle
A large carrion beetle called the American Burying beetle is a crucial part of its habitat in nutrient cycling. Their former range has significantly shrunk. A study from the University of Massachusetts stated, “The American Burying Beetle’s decline is linked to habitat fragmentation and changes in carrion availability.”
Puritan Tiger Beetle
Found rarely on the riberbanks and coastal bluffs in Massachussets, the Puritan Tiger beetle needs very specific conditions for its population to thrive. Changes in its environment have led to a diminished population. Erosion control and habitat protection are conservation methods in place to help this species’ recovery.
Frosted Elfin
The Frosted Elfin is a tiny butterly that needs specific plants, such as the wild indigo, to thrive. They have become endangered due to their host plants becoming scarcer and their habitat shrinking. With habitat restoration and protecting these host plants, their numbers may recover.
Yellow Lampmussel
The Yellow Lampmussel lives in the aquatic ecosystems of Massachusetts and is sensitive to changes in water quality. Seeing their population is a good indicator of water health, but their population has slowly diminished in recent years. Conservation efforts targeting water quality could see the rise of this population again.
Little Brown Bat
One of the most endangered mammals in Massachusetts is the little brown bat. Their population is devastated by diseases, including fungal growths and white-nose syndrome. These threats, coupled with habitat loss and climate change, have led to a massive decline in their population.
