The February Photo of the Month is this black bear being spotted in the backyard of one of our volunteers, Leslie Jones! Thank you Leslie for this amazing close-up from June of 2022!

Black bears are extremely curious animals, especially following hibernation. Mammalian hibernation is a seasonal reduction in metabolism due to the changing climate, and black bears have extremely efficient hibernation. In Massachusetts, black bears typically emerge from hibernation between February and April, so you may start to see them exploring as they are emerging from hibernation and searching for food.

 Bear sightings may slow down this month, but if you see any and have pictures submit them to us here.  

Reminder to anyone with a Ring camera or similar security system installed; these systems help us collect important data on the presence and absence of mammals in your area. We welcome you to join our team of registered volunteers who submit photos once a month. Having regular reports from a fixed location allows us to learn even more about mammals in your area than individual sightings.  New volunteers can register here 

March Madness Schedule by Arizona State University

Now that the month of February is over, we wanted to let everyone know about a fun tournament you can be involved in. It is called March Mammal Madness by Arizona State University.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if two animals encountered each other? This tournament simulates what would happen if your favorite mammals clashed in different habitats.

You can print out a bracket and play along; check the website for updates on who wins each matchup. If you want more information on the tournament and find out how to play, watch this video and visit the website here (the website has more videos like this one)!

https://libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalMadness

Over the following months, MassMammals will be showcasing new members on social media and newsletters. If you are following our Facebook or Instagram, you may have seen our new member spotlight for Grace on the data and outreach team!

Meet Adela! Adela is a new member of the MassMammals team who joined last fall. She is a sophomore at Amherst College who is a prospective Geology and American Studies major.

Adela works with the education team to collect data and keep track of the trail cameras!

Adela will be teaching lessons in local schools and is developing innovative ideas for lessons that take students out to explore local ecosystems near them.

Adela's favorite mammal (currently) is the beaver, and a fun fact about her is that she grew up on a farm!

Photo credit to Susan Crim

Do you recognize this mammal?

If not, here is a hint: this animal has excellent vision, a keen sense of smell, and is an adept swimmer!

You can check and see if your guess is correct on our Instagram next week!