• Slideshow Featured Content

    • Northern Long-eared Bat Locations in Massachusetts

      The NHESP has published a map delineating regulatory habitat in Massachusetts for the Northern Long-eared Bat, federally listed April 2, 2015.

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    • Eastern Spadefoot needs a helping hand in the Connecticut River Valley region of Massachusetts. Photo by Jacob E. Kubel

      A New Conservation Effort for the Threatened Eastern Spadefoot

      MassWildlife has initiated a project to establish a population of Eastern Spadefoot at the Southwick WMA.

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    • Submit vernal pool certification and rare species documentation to the NHESP using the new online data submittal tool-the Vernal Pool & Rare Species Information System (VPRS).

      Report your observations online!

      Don't forget to submit vernal pool certification and rare species documentation electronically to the NHESP using the Vernal Pool & Rare Species Information System (VPRS).

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    • Prescribed fire at Southwick Wildlife Management Area

      Land Legacy & Key Sites: Protecting our Investment in Public Land

      MassWildlife is completing the largest habitat management effort the agency has ever undertaken.

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  • The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP), part of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, is one of the programs forming the Natural Heritage network . NHESP 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. The Program's highest priority is protecting the vertebrate and invertebrate animals and native plants that are officially listed as Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern in Massachusetts.

    The overall goal of the Program is the protection of the state's wide range of native biological diversity. Progress towards this goal is accomplished through the following:

    • Biological Field Surveys & Research
    • Data Management
    • Endangered Species Regulation
    • Rare Species Recovery and Ecological Restoration of Key Habitats
    • Land Protection
    • Education

Support Us!

Voluntary donations are a major source of funding for NHESP. All donations go into the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund, a critical source for the annual budget of NHESP.

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In June 2013 the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species web site changed as we became part of EEA’s portal web site.  The site offers many advantages to our users especially those accessing our site through smart phones and tablets.  Please take a moment to give us your feedback of the web pages.