This gorgeous coyote closeup is our May Photo of the Month! The trail camera shot was captured by one of our longtime volunteers, Susan Crim, in Amherst, MA! Thank you Susan!!

Our June Photo of the Month was taken by Diane Thornton in Westhampton, MA. Not every day you see a moose in your backyard!! Thank you Diane for the exciting submission!

The MassMammals Data Team has an exciting update about our sightings maps - we now have a new map for MassMammals sightings in addition to our original MassBears map! Both of these interactive map displays can be viewed in closer detail with information about the legend and individual sightings on our website here. 

The map displays data from all kinds of mammals that you all, our amazing volunteers, submit to us as sightings, from foxes to moose to porcupines. In order to better represent the biodiversity across Massachusetts, this map is also supplemented by mammal sightings submissions from a secondary source, iNaturalist, a social network app that allows community scientists across the world to submit their observations, similar to our very own project! When interacting with the map on our website, you can learn more about a sighting source by clicking on an individual point.

We would like to say a huge thank you to as this map would not have existed without the continuous support and contributions of all of you! We are always looking for more sightings and more volunteers across the state, so if you would like to continue helping us collect invaluable scientific data for future analyses, learn more about how to report your very own discoveries here!

As always, feel free to reach out to us citscima@amherst.edu with any questions about our MassMammals and MassBears projects.

We hope you’re enjoying the warm weather this season and taking the chance to get outside! If you find yourself at the Cape this season, keep an eye out for coyotes and red foxes in the forests and on the beaches. You might even see a sunbathing seal along the rocks! If you are lucky enough to see a seal, we encourage you to view them safely from a distance.

Another summer highlight is getting to see all the newborn deer start to find their legs. Fawns are mostly born at the end of May and beginning of June, so you may be seeing more of them out and about with their mothers! Remember — if you find a fawn lying alone, its mom is likely nearby and checking in, even if you can’t see her. No need to move the baby!

You can read more about fawns, seals, and other summer mammals at Mass.gov and Mass Audubon.

From Amherst to Arizona, student members of the MassMammals Data & Outreach Team are spread out across the country working on amazing internships, research, and getting some much-needed sun. Learn more about how our team members are spending their summers below!

Hi, I'm Alexia! This summer, I'm doing a research internship at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. My project focuses on the association between pesticides and Parkinson's disease, and my work involves programming, statistics, and analyzing geospatial data. Meanwhile, I'm trying to get used to the Arizona heat, and I have a couple of trips planned, such as going to the Grand Canyon, the Desert Botanical Garden, and other new places.

Hello! My name is Anna and I'm in Chicago for the first time interning at a strategy consulting firm. I've been learning a lot about transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and the healthcare technology industry. I'm super excited to continue exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and going to farmers markets this summer! I'm also continuing to work remotely on MassMammals by managing this newsletter in addition to our social media, sightings data, and interactive maps.

Hey! I'm Annika and this summer in June and July I'm working full time for MassMammals! We're doing outreach at farmers' markets and libraries all over the state, touching up the MassMammals and MassBears websites, and writing/editing lesson plans for the education side of the project. In August I'll move on and start doing some field work for my senior thesis in biology! It's really great to be on campus for my final summer at Amherst.

Hi, my name is Ayres! I kicked off my summer break by taking a road trip to Vermont and visiting the Ben and Jerry's Factory. When I'm not traveling, I'll be working as a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor as well as continuing to work on outreach and responding to our volunteers for MassMammals. My favorite summer activities are hiking and going to outdoor markets!

Hello, my name is Elise! I work with the education team during the year, but I am doing community outreach this summer. I am focused on connecting in person with collaborators and volunteers and increasing data sources. I am most looking forward to tabling at farmer's markets, and in my free time, I like to get outside and rollerblade on the bike trail!

Hi, I'm Kea! This summer, I am working as an intern for US Congressman Ed Case where I help with constituent services, attend meetings with the congressman, and conduct congressional research that helps aid in his decision making as a lawmaker. Outside of my internship, I am enjoying being back home in Hawai'i by surfing, going on hikes, and eating a lot of amazing food! I'm also still helping out with organizing all of our sightings submission and map data during the summer.

 Hey everyone, my name is Liam! This summer, I'm located in Washington, DC as an OCA Asian Pacific Advocate intern! I'm spending my time at work learning about many AANHPI issues to eventually advocate for OCA's policy priorities to Congress. Outside of work, I'm enjoying learning how to cook and eating many, many watermelons.