Endangered Species - Protections and Prohibited Actions - Massachusetts

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person may take, possess, transport, export, process, sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy, nor shall a common or contract carrier knowingly transport or receive for shipment, any plant or animal species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern or listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act...

Citation: M.G.L.A. 131A § 2.

...“Take”, in reference to animals, to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, hound, kill, trap, capture, collect, process, disrupt the nesting, breeding, feeding or migratory activity or attempt to engage in any such conduct, or to assist such conduct, and in reference to plants, to collect, pick, kill, transplant, cut or process or attempt to engage or to assist in any such conduct...

Citation: M.G.L.A. 131A § 1.

Records of the division of fisheries and wildlife in the department of fish and game known as the Massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program data base shall not be public records; provided, however, that they shall be open for inspection by agents of the commonwealth and the federal government for the purposes of protecting and preserving species and subspecies of nongame wildlife and indigenous plants. Except as otherwise determined by the administrator of the said data base, site-specific rare species information shall be released only upon the receipt of a statement, in writing, by the recipient that he shall keep such information confidential.

Citation: M.G.L.A. 66 § 17D.