City Nature Challenge: Western Mass

2025
April 25 - April 28: Collect Observations
April 29 - May 4: ID Species

Everyone! 

Observers: If you are in western Massachusetts April 25 - April 28 and can add observations to iNaturalist please do! 

IDers: If you want to contribute species IDs to observations in western Massachusetts, you can do that from anywhere from April 25 -  May 4!  Go to the City Nature Challenge 2025: Western Mass iNaturalist page starting April 25, click on Observations, and then the Identify button to start IDing observations contributed to the Western Mass project.

The City Nature Challenge is a friendly competition* among cities across the globe to see which city can find and document the most wildlife (plants, animals, fungi, microbes - anything wild!) over a four-day period.

*In these challenging times the focus of the event has shifted from competition to community building.  Let's all get out there and see what we can find!

Western Mass, Massachusetts, USA: Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties

See the Where Can I Find Wildlife? page for a more detailed and interactive map.

There is nature all around us—even in our cities. Last year’s challenge saw almost two and a half million (2,436,844) observations made by more than 83,000 people around the globe.  By making wildlife observations, you are contributing data to scientists and your community, which helps the study and protection of local species.  Previous years' participants have documented species in their areas that were completely surprising, species they did not know were there.

Plus, it's true always but especially in this stressful time as we come out of the pandemic, nature is good for you!  Taking a walk in the fresh air, getting some (but not too much!) sun, letting your senses engage with nature, and letting your mind focus on something other than worry are all good for your health.  Exercise is good for you, sunshine gets you necessary vitamin D, using your eyes and ears to focus on a variety of things rather than just your screen is scientifically proven to be good for them, and taking breaks to de-stress is more important than ever.

Western Mass

Observations = 4,328
Species = 1,046
Participants = 314

Western Mass participation in the 2025 City Nature Challenge is co-hosted by Melanie Radik and Lynn Harper.

We are sponsored by the UMass Amherst Libraries.  

The overall City Nature Challenge was dreamed up and is coordinated by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.  The very first Challenge in 2016 was just between LA and San Francisco.