22 Species Added To Mass. Endangered Species List

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Wildlife officials have added 22 species to the Massachusetts Endangered Species List.

Every couple of years, the state updates the list with any plants and animals that are considered endangered. According to MassWildlife, the designation is determined by rarity in the state, population trend and overall threat.

“The biggest threats are going to be climate change, urban development, or suburban development in a lot of areas,” said MassWildlife’s Rebecca Quiñones. “If you think of the expansion of residential development away from 495, that’s a big threat.”

While many of the recently added species were plants, Quiñones said all the new endangered animals can fly. Less eastern red bats, hoary bats, and silver-haired bats mean more pesky bugs flying around the Commonwealth.

“For bats, one of the biggest things is you’ll see more mosquitoes for instance,” said Quiñones.

Two types of bees, the golden borer moth and the Acadian hairstreak butterfly rounded out the rest of the animal side of the lists. Quiñones said pesticides are tainting the food supply for many of these species.

“We’ll see some that will be both using the edges of the forest and coming into people’s gardens. They’re spread pretty ubiquitously across the state,” said Quiñones.

Those who record sightings of any of the endangered species can report their findings to MassWildlife.

WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.