Nature & Wildlife
In Massachusetts, each season presents new and exciting opportunities to explore and understand our ever-changing landscape and its inhabitants. Here you can find information about commonly encountered wildlife and invasive plants.
Want to learn more? Sign up for an upcoming program >
What's Happening Now? - Summer
What's Happening in Summer?
- Finding baby birds
- Helping injured birds
- Encountering sick birds
- Turtles crossing the road
- Birds flying into windows
- Birds living in chimneys
- Bird nests in odd places
- Finding birds in pools
- Finding duck nests in enclosed areas
- Birds singing at night
- Bats inside homes
- Seeing snakes
- Encountering bees & wasps
- Carpenter ants inside homes
- Ticks & Lyme Disease prevention
- Seeing an insect-like hummingbird
- Butterflies fluttering
- Skunks spraying & making dens
- Groundhogs/woodchucks in gardens
- Bears at bird feeders (Western MA)
Spring & Summer Nature Promos
Got Nature & Wildlife Questions?
- See our Nature & Wildlife FAQs >
- Use our Search Tool >
- Contact us if you have a question that is not covered in our FAQs.
Common Spring & Summer Birds
Spring and summer are great seasons to go birding! Migrants return from their wintering grounds, singing and displaying in fine fashion, then stay to raise their young. Learn more about warm weather birds found in Massachusetts.
iNaturalist
Use this free, online platform to ID and share photos of plants, fungi, and animals! You can also help Mass Audubon compile a catalog of the biodiversity at our sanctuaries. Get started >
Birds
Birds
Discover the birds—and bird behaviors—you're likely to encounter in Massachusetts. Get birdy >
Insects & Arachnids
Insects & Arachnids
Love them or fear them, insects and arachnids play a fundamental role in nature. Learn more >
Mammals
Mammals
From chipmunks to moose, the Commonwealth is home to mammals of all sizes. Meet a few >
Reptiles & Amphibians
Reptiles & Amphibians
They may seem similar, but these two ancient groups have very different (very cool) adaptations. Dive in >
Invasive Plants
Invasive Plants
Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to Massachusetts' native species. Find out why >
Outdoor Almanac (big)
Outdoor Almanac
Find out what's happening in nature this month, from moon phases to animal migrations. Check it out >