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:
- species rarity,
- population trends, and
- 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
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Humpback Whale | Megaptera novaeangliae | Withdrawn | |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: (929) 205-6099 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 susan.sacco@mass.gov, to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board.
For more details, please visit: Fisheries and Wildlife Hearings on Proposed Regulatory Amendments.
Contact for Changes to the list of Endangered, Threatened, & Special Concern species
Online
Phone
Open M–F, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (closed noon–12:30 for lunch)
North/Central/Western Massachusetts
Southeastern Massachusetts/Cape & Islands