The August photo of the month features a Fisher! Now here’s an animal you don’t see or hear of everyday! This shy creature is forest-dwelling and a carnivorous little being. Fishers are members of the weasel family and despite their name, they actually don’t fish. Their diet is mainly opportunistic, but it includes squirrels, birds, fawns, eggs, fruit, and porcupine! Thank you to MassMammals volunteer Andrew Logan for this amazing photo of the month!

For any more mammal sightings, submit any photos to the form 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 

Picture of two moose from volunteer Susan Roylance!

This month, we want to highlight some mammals that you may or may not see in your backyard!

Deer

- There are over 60 species of deer, living on all continents except Antarctica!

- Deer can jump up to 10ft high and have 310° of rotational vision

- Every year, deer antlers fall off and regrow with a nutrient-rich covering called velvet, packed with nerves and blood vessels to aid in regeneration

Moose

- Moose can reach up to 1,800 lbs, with an average female weighing 771 lbs and an average male weighing 881 lbs!

- Like deer, male moose antlers fall off and regrow yearly, with larger and heavier antlers growing in each successive year

- Moose are great swimmers, being able to dive almost 20 ft underwater with hollow hair follicles which help them stay afloat

Beavers

- Beavers can stay underwater for almost 15 minutes with transparent eyelids acting like goggles!

- Beaver teeth are orange due to an iron-rich enamel

- Beavers are the largest mammal in North America, weighing between 35 to 65 lbs!

Students from a local school engaging with a MassMammals lesson plan!

Participatory science plays a crucial role in the study and conservation of mammals by empowering the public to participate in data collection and research efforts. Volunteers help monitor populations, track species distribution, and report sightings, which is especially important for elusive or endangered mammals.

This widespread participation enables scientists to gather large-scale data that would be difficult to obtain through traditional research methods. Participatory science, also known as citizen science, raises awareness about the challenges facing mammal species, such as habitat loss and climate change, and fosters a sense of responsibility and stewardship toward wildlife. By engaging communities in mammal research, citizen science contributes to more effective conservation efforts and enhances our understanding of mammalian behavior and ecology.

Teaching young kids that they can be involved in science is essential for fostering curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. It helps them understand that science is not limited to professionals but is accessible to anyone with questions and a desire to explore. Encouraging this early engagement empowers children to see themselves as future problem solvers and innovators, contributing to scientific progress and a better world.

Our wonderful PI Dr. Thea Kristensen setting up a trail camera!

MassMammals has launched a pilot project! Our project aims to refine methods before potentially expanding to a larger scale, with a focus on balancing wildlife conservation with human recreational use. Our study's findings will be shared with the community, contributing to understanding and preserving the region's ecological health.

This summer we are exploring how different types of trail use in the Holyoke Range affect local wildlife, inspired by community input on changing human traffic patterns. The Holyoke Range is a critical area for conservation and recreation in the Pioneer Valley. With support from the Kestrel Land Trust and other local groups, our study will use trail cameras to monitor both human and mammal activity, ensuring privacy by ensuring privacy by keeping photos in a password-protected folder only accessible by project members and deleting images after data collection.

 This project is currently ongoing, so if you would like to find out more, click this link!