Zoo New England's Grassroots Wildlife Conservation
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NEWS: Zoo New England’s “Turtle Dog” will assist staff with local conservation field work |
Preserving Living Treasures in Our Backyard
In our increasingly crowded and busy world, many of the wondrous living treasures that grace our Earth—from rhinos and polar bears to tropical orchids—are at risk of disappearing. Equally threatened are many of the beautiful and little known animals and plants that live in your state, your town, or perhaps your own backyard.
Our mission is to work with you to help preserve some of our rare and declining species while teaching you about the diversity and wonder of the natural world around you. Come outside with us, roll up your sleeves, and help make sure that generations to come will, like you, delight in hands-on experiences with our rarer wild neighbors.
Projects & Resources
Blanding's Turtle
Each fall, Stone Zoo hosts a group of Blanding’s turtle hatchlings, giving them a “head-start” on long-term survival.
Bridle Shiners
We've learned to care for this fish in captivity and worked with conservationists who have succeeded in breeding bridle shiners in captivity.
Eastern Spadefoot Toads
Since 2009, we've worked with Mass Audubon to restore these toads to their former range by designing and building vernal pools and headstarting toads for reintroduction to the wild.
Marbled Salamanders
We've begun the first marbled salamander reintroduction project in Massachusetts, bringing these tiny amphibians back to Metro-Boston.
By Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
New England Blazing Star and Native Pollinators
Native pollinator species are on the decline due to habitat loss. We're helping to bring back rare wildflowers on conservation land around Middlesex county.
Spotted Turtles
We’re working to conserve the last remaining population of the locally rare spotted turtle in Boston. Biologists radiotrack turtles to document population demographics, understand habitat needs and headstart hatchlings.
Wood Turtles
Once the most common freshwater turtle in eastern Mass, the wood turtle is now state threatened. Since 2012, we've been monitoring these turtles in the wild.
