Updates to the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

04:49AM / Tuesday, December 31, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — MassWildlife works to conserve biodiversity in the Commonwealth and updated the list of plants and animals officially protected by the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) this year following an extensive review of population data and threats.

Following this update, there are now 453 native animals and plants listed under MESA. All listed species receive the same protection, but they are categorized as endangered, threatened, or of special concern—depending on their status and the threats they face. After analysis of scientific data and review of public comments on the proposed changes, 22 plants and animals were added to the MESA list, 1 plant was delisted, and the status of 2 plants was changed.

MESA is implemented by MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. By law, the list of plants and animals protected under MESA must be reviewed at least every 5 years. The status of a species may change due to factors including changes to our knowledge about:

Reproductive and population status and trends within the state,
Species' habitat requirements and vulnerability to threats to its habitat,
Geographic and genetic distribution within the state,
Rarity of the species and its habitats, or
Emerging diseases and infections

Mammals

The Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) have been reclassified in Massachusetts from "not listed" to "special concern."

Butterflies and moths

The golden borer moth (Papaipema cerina) has been reclassified in Massachusetts from "not listed" to "endangered," while the Acadian hairstreak butterfly (Satyrium acadica) has been reclassified from "not listed" to "threatened."

Bees

The Parnassia miner bee (Andrena parnassiae) and the Macropis cuckoo bee (Epeoloides pilosulus) have both been reclassified in Massachusetts from "not listed" to "threatened."

Plants

Bog sedge (Carex exilis) from "not listed" to "threatened"
Willdenow's sedge (Carex willdenowii) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Split-leaved hawthorn (Crataegus schizophylla) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Appalachian bristle-fern (Crepidomanes intricatum) from "endangered" to "special concern"
Pine barrens flatsedge (Cyperus retrorsus) from "not listed" to "special concern"
Frog orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Velvet rosette-grass (Dichanthelium scoparium) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Showy orchid (Galearis spectabilis) from "not listed" to "threatened"
Loesel's wide-lipped orchid (Liparis loeselii) from "not listed" to "threatened"
Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) from "not listed" to "special concern"
Winged loosestrife (Lythrum alatum) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia cespitosa) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Hooker's orchid (Platanthera hookeri) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Large-leaved orchid (Platanthera macrophylla) from "not listed" to "threatened"
Round-leaved orchid (Platanthera orbiculata) from "not listed" to "threatened"
Ogden’s pondweed (Potamogeton ogdenii) from "endangered" to "not listed"
Slender clubmoss (Pseudolycopodiella caroliniana) from "not listed" to "endangered"
Slender bladderwort (Utricularia subulata) from "special concern" to "threatened"

All of the native animals and plants on the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list play a role in keeping the Commonwealth's natural communities thriving. Residents can make a difference and support endangered species conservation by making a donation to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund, which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species and their habitats in the Commonwealth. Learn how to support rare species conservation.

Tags: MassWildlife,

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Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires

Community submissionGuest Column
10:22AM / Friday, August 28, 2026

I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.

Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.

Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.

I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.

Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.

I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.

I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.

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