Latest news with #MassWildlife
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
No license required during Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend in Mass.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – While those in Massachusetts usually need a license to fish in freshwater, it won't be mandatory during Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend. During the first weekend of June, anyone is free to fish at any lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in the state, whether you have a fishing license or not. Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend takes place this year from midnight on June 7 until 11:59 p.m. on June 8. Holyoke Farmers' Market kicks off 2025 season Throughout this special weekend, all other regulations, including catch limits, apply. Massachusetts residents are encouraged to review fishing regulations by MassWildlife before diving in headfirst this upcoming weekend. Aside from the event, if you are 15 or older, you are required to have a license to be able to fish in freshwater. The license comes free of charge if you are 15-17 or 70 and older. Anglers who prefer to fish in saltwater had the opportunity to take part in a 2025 Free Saltwater Fishing Day on May 11 and will get to do so again on June 15. Funds from fishing license sales go towards MassWildlife's fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. To buy your own fishing license, visit WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Zoo in Forest Park warns against disturbing fawns
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Zoo in Forest Park is reminding residents to leave young animals alone if they find them. Over the weekend, the Zoo in Forest Park and the City of Springfield were notified of three young white-tailed deer fawns that were disturbed by members of the public who thought that they were abandoned. Fawn rescued from Springfield's Forest Park construction area The Zoo states that white-tailed deer mothers will often leave their fawns alone for hours at a time, especially during the first few weeks of life. The mothers do this to avoid attracting predators to the fawn, which is born scentless and instinctively stays still in tall grass or underbrush. If these young animals are removed from the wild, they can deny them important natural learning experiences that help them to survive on their own. Sometimes, the care that is given to young wildlife results in some attachment to humans, and the animals may try to return to places where people live, only to be attacked by domestic animals or hit by cars. MassWildlife states that fawns are safest when left alone because their camouflaging color helps them remain undetected. If sympathetic people repeatedly visit a fawn, it can prolong separation from the doe and delay needed feeding. In the rare case, you find a young animal with a dead parent or if you see visible signs of injury, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. An injured wild animal may be assisted, but a person must deliver the animal immediately to a licensed rehabilitator. MassWildlife licenses rehabilitators who are qualified to care for most injured or truly orphaned wildlife. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Black bear caught peeking through trees in Amherst
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – Black bear sightings continue in western Massachusetts, as another was caught on camera on Friday. Bear sightings in western Mass. increase due to warmer winters Stephanie Jernigan of Amherst sent 22News this photo of a black bear peering through leaves and trees. This bear, photographed in Amherst, looks almost as if it were posing for the picture, as it is seen looking forward intently. According to MassWildlife, black bears are known to have good eyesight and hearing, and an exemplary sense of smell, which is used to locate food and recognize potential danger. Black bears typically exit hibernation between early March and mid-April, which is one reason why bear sightings in western Mass. have been steadily increasing throughout the spring. Black bears mate between mid-June and mid-July. Bear sightings are estimated to peak in the next month. Western Massachusetts residents should continue to keep their distance when encountering black bears in their neighborhoods, keeping food and trash secured so as not to attract them to yards. If you have photos, videos, or a news tip you'd like to share, email ReportIt@ WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
Coyotes attack dog in Brookline. Police warn neighbors to be on alert.
Brookline police are sending out a warning after they said coyotes attacked a dog Monday night. Investigators said brazen behavior from coyotes is being spotted more and more around Brookline. Police said the two coyotes emerged from a wooded area and attacked a dog last night in the Sargent Beechwood area while it was on a walk. The attack left neighbors like the Guzmans keeping their small dogs on tighter leashes. Neighbors concerned "It's really a concern since they're getting on people's property you really have to keep an eye out," said neighbor Gabby Guzman. "It's definitely concerning that now that they're more used to humans being around that you don't know what else can happen." Neighbors said they've been seeing coyotes for years, but now they don't seem to be afraid of humans. Surveillance video from last November shows a scary encounter where a coyote is seen chasing a woman into her home. Another Ring doorbell camera video shows a coyote prancing right by a family's front door not too long ago. While coyote sightings are common in the neighborhood by the Brookline Conservation Land Trust, their bold behavior is concerning. "I know we have neighbors with really small children and it's just as a concern for the small children as it is for the small dogs," said Sebastian Guzman. "We do share a space with them, so I think an important part is pet owners being responsible for your pets." MassWildlife officials say coyote denning and pup-rearing seasons typically run in April and May, where they are protective of their dens and may be more aggressive toward dogs. What to do during a coyote encounter For neighbors that means being more alert. Police say if you have a surprise encounter with a coyote, remember to stay calm, stand tall, and make yourself heard and don't hesitate to call the police if you feel you are in danger.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bear sightings in western Mass. increase due to warmer winters
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Bear sightings in western Massachusetts have increased in the past couple of weeks and are expected to peak in the next month. Residential bear sightings have become normal in the Pioneer Valley, but warmer winters have made the appearances a year-round affair. We've received many emails about bear sightings in backyards and side streets. We spoke with Dave Wattles, a biologist at Mass Wildlife, to understand why bear sightings peak during this time of year. 'All those cubs that have been with their mother for a little over a year now are starting to disperse from her before the meeting season, and they're going to be on their own,' Wattles said. 'So the combination of the activity during the mating season, as well as those young animals dispersing, is why there's so much activity this time of year.' Bears enter residential areas for many reasons, but a big one is to find food sources, many of which you keep outside your home. 'Birdfeeders have trained almost every bear in Massachusetts that the best place to find food is in your backyard up on your deck,' Wattles said. The best way to avoid attracting bears to your home is to take down bird feeders and keep trash bins in your garage. If you encounter a bear on a run or a trail, it's best to make your presence known with loud noises and waving your arms. While black bears are usually nonconfrontational, they don't take surprises well. 'The real danger with bears is when we surprise them proximity. Then they could be uncomfortable, and they might act defensively in those circumstances,' Wattles said. With warming weather, these bears are coming out earlier and earlier. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
