Boston wildlife in 2020

In 2020, animals continued to turn Boston into their preserve. Coyotes, deer and snapping turtles prowled our byways and parks. Birds of all sorts flew into town. The resident turkeys continued to alternate between being charming butterballs and terrifying clawed beasts. And an apparent ravenous porcupine ripped up saplings in Franklin Park.

Even if they could not contract it, Covid-19 affected the animals as well: Empty playgrounds became hunting grounds for hawks, rats deprived of their usual alley feasts during the spring shutdown swarmed out of their usual haunts in search of food, and, finding none, ate their young. Public Garden Lagoon water, no longer aerated by paddling Swan Boats, became a toxic, duck-killing morass.

Special thanks to Mary Ellen, who captured so much fauna in Millennium Park and other bird hangouts across Boston.

Hero pug clears troubled Hyde Park street of tormenting turkeys 1/5/20 Linuxlibrarian reports that Bruce the pug helped turn Myopia Road in Hyde Park into a turkey-free zone, at least while he...

Looks like one of the West End Apartments' fabled white squirrels went for a little stroll today 1/13/20 Shaneoinsaino spotted this little guy today on Hawkins Street, off of New Chardon Street, adds: This kind of camo isn't...

Neponset River gets approval of seal 1/20/20 The Dorchester Reporter has some photos of a seal relaxing in the Neponset up by Lower Mills last week.

Feeling cute, might peck at a car later, IDK 1/24/20 Katie spotted Mr. All Fluffed Up on Spring Park Avenue in Jamaica Plain this morning.

A daffy duck at Jamaica Pond 1/29/20 Say, we don't get many black ducks at Jamaica Pond (and at these prices, we can see why, woo hoo!).

The Millennium eagle has landed 2/2/20 Roving UHub photographer Mary Ellen reports there were actually two eagles along the Charles River at Millennium Park in West...

Going nuts over Valentine's Day 2/14/20 Eileen Murphy put out some treats for Rocky, a regular visitor to her South Boston porch.

Puffball alights in West Roxbury park 2/14/20 Mary Ellen the roving UHub photographer, spotted this male Eastern bluebird - a member of the thrush family - at Millennium...

Citizen complaint of the day: Dead eels in Dorchester 2/22/20 A concerned citizen filed a 311 complaint about dead eels among the rocks by the Morrissey Boulevard drawbridge: Was...

Citizen complaint of the day: The Prius-hating turkey of Appleton Street 2/25/20 Today, we jump across the river to Cambridge for this complaint from Appleton Street: This turkey has been pounding on...

Keeping an eye on Jamaica Pond 3/2/20 This big bird was sitting in a tree on the Parkman Drive side of Jamaica Pond shortly before 5 p.m. He, or she, attracted...

Prudential Center gains a rafter of turkeys 3/12/20 Rob C. wonders if there's an omen involved with all these turkeys at the Prudential Center this morning.

Birds take note of the current situation 3/25/20 Kelly Lewis spotted a pair of swans doing some social distancing off the Expressway in Dorchester today. Meanwhile, over...

Citizen complaint of the day: Can nothing stop the ravenous quillbeasts running amok in Franklin Park? 3/29/20 A horrified citizen has spent a couple days cataloging the damage being done to saplings in Franklin Park by what he says are...

Citizen complaint of the day: Coyote on a Mission 3/31/20 A startled citizen filed a 311 complaint about a coyote trotting along St. Alphonsus Street by Kevin Fitzgerald Park on...

Do you even peck, bro? Not when the gym's closed, no 4/7/20 Saw these two "gym [flying] rats" at the entrance to the Huntington Y today. I think they were probably bummed that Covid-19...

When you have the playground all to yourself 4/12/20 Stephen Thomas Costa found this hawk just hanging out today at the Parquesito de Hermandad playground in Franklin Park -...

Forget porch pirates: In Hyde Park, people have to worry about porch turkeys 4/14/20 Seth McCoy reports opening the door on River Street, near the Price Rite in Hyde Park, today to find, no, not an energy...

Citizen complaint of the day: Yo no quiero Taco Gull 4/19/20 A disgusted citizen filed a 311 report about the gull buffet outside the Summer Street Taco Bell this morning. Taco Bell...

Emerging from quarantine like ... 4/20/20 Roving UHub photographer Mary Ellen went up to Belle Isle Marsh on the East Boston/Winthrop line yesterday and reports the...

Like Red Sox fans, Boston pigeons are distinct from their New York counterparts 4/23/20 Today's top research news comes via the New York Times, which reports a scientist has discovered that Boston and New York...

The deer walks at daybreak 4/29/20 No, Kristen Johnson isn't a spy with a passcode. She just happened to get to Jamaica Pond early this morning, before the...

Somerville really is for the birds 5/5/20 JK21 spotted this fancy birdhouse above the Somerville bike lane between Willow Avenue and Davis Square today (look carefully...

Not everybody looked askance at some al fresco dining today 5/9/20 A roving UHub photographer spotted this hawk with some fresh lunch - a black bird of some sort - in the Public Garden today....

We like our songbirds pleasantly plump 5/13/20 Mary Ellen the roving UHub photographer captured this hooded warbler at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir yesterday.

A cup of maple walnut, we assume 5/21/20 Suzanne Hinton spotted a squirrel going nuts over a JP Licks cup at Flaherty Playground in Jamaica Plain today. Earlier:...

Boston's pandemic rats eat their young 5/29/20 DigBoston reports on increased rat sightings in both Boston and Cambridge as coronvirus deprives the rodents of a major food...

It may not be true what they say about snapping turtles and broomsticks, but best leave cleaning implements behind when you visit Millennium Park, just in case 6/6/20 Roving UHub photographer Mary Ellen spotted a pair of snapping turtles down by the river in Millennium Park today, and you...

Dunk a deer, a coffee deer ... 6/9/20 Deer are everywhere in Boston's southern tier. John Palladino spotted this deer hanging out this morning behind the Dunkin'...

No murder hornets, so would you settle for giant stinging jellyfish? 6/12/20 WBZ reports on the Lion's mane jellyfish at Nahant. They're in Boston Harbor, as well.

Chubs could really go for some clover 6/16/20 Rick Macomber reports this gopher was chowing down the last of a four-leaf clover at Salem Willows in Salem.

That's a lion's mane jellyfish alright 6/25/20 Gary Waldeck was walking his dog on Carson Beach today when he realized they were sharing the beach with some of those lion's...

Deer stuck at Fresh Pond 6/26/20 Josh Bittker reports on a deer at Fresh Pond in Cambridge: Oh deer - stuck inside the fence at Fresh Pond for a couple...

Good thing Pilgrims aren't known for swimming 7/4/20 The Plymouth harbormaster reports a shark today: @Plymouth_Harbor crew checking the white horse beach area after a...

A pair of pairs 7/9/20 Roving UHub photographer Mary Ellen spotted a pair of geese and what appears to be a pair of deer, but which she reports is...

Citizen complaint of the day: Snake's alive! 7/18/20 A resident of Wyman Street in Jamaica Plain filed a 311 report about the snake in the front yard, although the report does...

No murder hornets here - unless you're a cicada 7/18/20 Mary Ellen photographed one of several two-inch-long cicada killer wasps flitting around Millennium Park in West Roxbury...

Quarantine hair at Millennium Park 7/19/20 Mary Ellen spotted this male belted kingfsher at Millennium Park yesterday. Unlike most other birds, they build their nests...

Not all the little pogies make it out to sea 7/20/20 The other day, Adam Castiglioni spotted a lot of dead fish floating in the Charles at the Museum of Science and wondered what...

Bendi boi along the Charles River 7/20/20 Mary Ellen continues her exploration of bird life along the Charles River and Sawmill Brook at Millennium Park in West...

Here's looking at you, kid 7/21/20 Mary Ellen reports coming across seven frogs sharing a mud puddle on a dirt path along the train tracks at Millennium Park...

Citizen complaint of the day: Raccoons on Nanny Goat Hill 7/23/20 A worried citizen files a 311 complaint about some toonie raccoons in Charlestown. Are racoons in city normal?? Came to...

Goofus and Gallant at Millennium Park 7/24/20 Goofus glowers and squawks at anybody who comes near his berries. Gallant always has a cheery smile for passerby and would...

River fording 8/7/20 Mary Ellen captured a deer family wading into the low waters of the Charles River between Millennium and Cutler parks this...

The squirrels of Beacon Hill have reason to be skittish 8/8/20 Steven C. Schmitt reports this raptor was surveying the Beacon Hill scene yesterday from atop one of those street light/cell...

Citizen complaint of the day: A city bursting at the seams with rats 8/13/20 Based on complaints pouring into Boston's 311 system, we are a city overrun by rats, giant ones, spilling out of holes,...

Boston draining what has turned into a toxic, duck-killing Public Garden Lagoon 8/18/20 The Boston Parks and Recreation Department reports it started draining the Public Garden Lagoon today to try to rid it of...

Millennium Park a site for sora eyes 9/8/20 On a walk along the Charles River at Millennium Park yesterday, Mary Ellen spotted a sora, a marsh bird that is more commonly...

Looking for a juicy bug 9/19/20 Mary Ellen spotted this yellow-throated vireo at Millennium Park in West Roxbury the other day, reports they're not a common...

Today in West Roxbury wildlife: The northern water snake 9/26/20 Update: Local snake and turtle expert Andrea Howlett says this is actually a northern water snake, not a milk snake. Mike...

Citizen complaint of the day: Possums don't always play dead 9/28/20 A concerned citizen filed a 311 complaint this morning, asking the city to do something about the "angry opossum" on a stoop...

The Mean Girls of Millennium Park make sure Merlin can't sit anywhere near them 9/30/20 The other day, Mary Ellen was down at Millennium Park in West Roxbury, when she saw a merlin and some blue jays. And then...

The lure of the big city 10/1/20 Mary Ellen watched a pair of coyotes cross the drought-lowered Charles River from Cutler Park on the Dedham/Needham line over...

Waiting for one more before they start playing Duck, Duck, Goose 10/3/20 Liz the roving UHub photographer came upon a white duck having a grand old time hanging with a gaggle of geese on the...

Darn Acme boats never go when you want them to 10/10/20 Massachusetts Environmental Police report its officers responded to the Volunteer Yacht Club in Lynn yesterday, where they...

It's the season for spooky birds 10/11/20 Mary Ellen spotted a pair of rusty blackbirds looking more like evil mudbirds down in the muck along the Charles River at...

Large, rabid raccoon captured, euthanized in Arlington after biting, scratching young child 10/16/20 Arlington officials say a raccoon they believe bit and scratched a young child on Fountain Road Wednesday afternoon has...

Hawk and Hawk 10/20/20 John C. took this photo: A hawk spotted in East Boston in the same exact spot where Hawk from Spencer for hire was...

Able to leap tall hills in a single bound 10/25/20 Mary Ellen reports she, her husband and their faithful companion, Jax, were headed up the hill at Millennium Park in West...

If a black squirrel from the South End mated with a white squirrel from JP, would we get Holstein squirrels? 11/10/20 Way down here in remotest Roslindale, our squirrels seem to come in one variety: Gray. So on a trip up to the South End this...

Terror turkey draws blood in Hyde Park 11/10/20 A Hyde Park resident reports the last thing she expected on a leisurely stroll to the neighborhood Dunk's with her husband...

Hyde Park tom's reign of terror continues; woman held hostage in own home 11/15/20 On one of the Hyde Park Nextdoor groups, a Huntington Avenue resident reports she tried to go outside Thursday morning, but...

Some major irruption going on at Millennium Park 11/19/20 Mary Ellen reports a recent major burst of bird activity, or irruption, along the Charles River at Millennium Park as herds...

Hey, don't you dare turn your back on me when I'm gobbling at you! 11/19/20 After a turkey family visited his family backyard, Greg Cook began to wonder what the deal is with all these turkeys in the...

Greenway becomes birdway as famished chirpers wing south in search of food 11/24/20 Mary Ellen spotted this hoary redpoll, a bird more commonly found in arctic Canada and Greenland, this morning on the Rose...

West Roxbury coyote anything but coy 11/24/20 Blvckmachina couldn't help but notice this big, very healthy looking coyote just casually hanging out in his backyard on...

Raven about a bagel 11/25/20 Mary Ellen spotted a raven eating a bagel in West Roxbury yesterday. No word where the bagel's from, but since it's West...

They made it! 11/26/20 Thebostonlol spotted a big rafter crossing the plains of Franklin Park today. Dimas also spotted some free birds, in...

What if the turkeys and geese teamed up? 11/27/20 Welcome to Dot was forced to stop in Jamaica Plain today.

Brants do love their greens 11/29/20 Adam Balsam spotted some Atlantic brants going in for another serving of salad today on the side of Sargent's Wharf in the...

Swan lake 11/29/20 Mary Ellen spotted a flotilla of swans today in Cow Island Pond, the lake-like part of the Charles River off Rivermoor Street...

Allston Rat City? More like Allston Coyote City 12/1/20 Harry Mattison spotted a coyote with a serious winter coat on the Harvard soccer field in Allston this morning.

Not wearing white after Labor Day? Nuts to that 12/7/20 Mary Ellen journeyed over to Jamaica Pond this morning and promptly spotted its fabled white squirrel - and an eared grebe,...

Pensive perched peregrine ponders pigeons, perhaps 12/8/20 Mary Ellen spotted this peregrine falcon yesterday, hanging out overlooking Cow Island Pond, a sort of Charles River bay off...

Are the turkeys mutating? What is this bird? 12/11/20 Tim Devin spotted this bird on Spring Hill in Somerville today, has a question: OK, Internet, what the hell is this?

Grabbing some grub in East Boston 12/11/20 Rick Macomber watched an American kestrel come in for a landing in East Boston with some grub - literally, a big, juicy grub.