Permits! Permits! Permits
Wildlife of Massachusetts
Biodiversity and Restoration
Wetlands are Amazing
Seeing the Forest for the Trees
100

Massachusetts MGL Chapter 131 is the Act that covers the protection and management of wetlands and is known by this common name.  

What is the Wetlands Protection Act?

100

This native passerine bird is the state bird of Massachusetts

What is the Black Capped Chickadee?

100

This small beach loving bird is the focus of protection on 22 DCR beaches

What is the Piping Plover?

100

The presence of and characteristics of this substance create the unique qualities of wetlands

What is water?

100

This stately tree was long used as a common street tree and is the state tree of Massachusetts

What is the American Elm?

200

This municipal agency is charged with the protection of the community's natural resources and who you should contact before starting any projects in or near a wetland.

What is the local Conservation Commission

200

This native bird was proposed by Ben Franklin as the symbol of the U.S.

What is the turkey?

200

Asclepias, the Latin name for this genus of plants, serves as a host plant for the Monarch Butterfly?

What is milkweed?

200

With a name derived from the Latin word meaning spring this type of pool – DCR doesn’t want you swimming in

What is vernal pool?

200

Massachusetts is covered by this percentage of forest

What is 63%?

300

This State Statute protects listed species and their habitat and is known by this acronym

What is MESA?

300

This fungal syndrome is a major contributor to the decline of bat species around the World

What is White Nose Syndrome?

300

These species simplify an ecosystem, reducing species richness and potentially making the entire system more susceptible to collapse

What are invasive species?

300

This type of wetland is typically characterized by the presence of trees

What is a swamp?

300

This term refers to seasons when Oak trees produce acorns in great numbers

What is a mast season?

400

Killing, harming, or disturbing a protected species or altering or damaging its habitat is considered this term of illegal activity under state and federal law.

What is "Take"

400

5 of the nine species of these native flying mammals in Massachusetts are listed on state or federal lists for protection

What are bats?

400

The public can help restore native communities by hand pulling this invasive plant which can be used to make a tasty pesto

What is Garlic Mustard?

400

This process of locking up metals and contaminants is performed by wetlands and is being used intentionally by humans to clean up contaminated sites

What is bioremediation?

400

Examples of this late seral stage forest community can be found on several DCR properties

What is old growth forest?

500

This federal agency is responsible to permitting any and all activities related to dredging of Navigable Waters of the US.

What is the Army Corps of Engineers?

500

3 of the 5 known communities in the state of these two species of endangered pit vipers are found on DCR properties in Massachusetts

What are Timber Rattle Snakes and Copperheads

500

NHESP has identified 106 natural communities in the state of Mass. comprising these three broad categories 

What are palustrine, estuarine and terrestrial?

500

These tidally influenced wetlands in Massachusetts are often characterized by the presence of either of 2 species of Spartina.   

What are salt marshes?

500

This area of Massachusetts is one of the most wild fire prone areas in the country because of the native forest community located here

What is Southeastern Massachusetts?

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