10 Unexpected Animals You Can Find Living in Massachusetts

Moving from New Bedford to the deep woods of Dartmouth has felt like moving to another world, and I only traveled a few miles down the road.

Back in the city, I was used to seeing squirrels, pigeons and the occasional skunk (usually roadkill). Now, I’m sharing my surroundings with massive six-spotted fishing spiders, barn owls and all kinds of creatures I never saw roaming around New Bedford.

I even learned that black bears have been spotted in the past near the area where I now live. Yes, bears, and it made me wonder what else could be hiding in the woods, wetlands, ponds and waters of Massachusetts.

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Massachusetts Is Wilder Than I Thought

I'm not going to lie, that curiosity sent me down a wildlife rabbit hole, and a deep one at that. Thanks to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, I quickly learned that the Bay State is home to some seriously unusual animals.

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We’re talking about creatures with star-shaped noses, squirrels that glide through the air and even wild exotic looking seahorses swimming off the Massachusetts coast. Some are extremely rare, while others may be living nearby without us ever noticing them.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Spider Is Scary But Surprisingly Helpful

Below you'll find 10 animals I had no idea called Massachusetts home, but I ended up learning a thing or two. It's safe to say that I’ll definitely be paying closer attention to what is crawling, swimming or flying around my new backyard.