Massachusetts

Hikers get video of dramatic snake fight between two venomous Massachusetts rattlers: Watch

Published

2 years ago

August 7, 2024

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Hikers get video of dramatic snake fight between two venomous Massachusetts rattlers: Watch

A group of teachers encountered a dramatic snake fight while hiking a trail in Massachusetts’ Blue Hills Reservation.

Erin Noonan and her colleagues from Parker Elementary School in Quincy were hiking near Milton on July 30 when they ran into “two timber rattlesnakes doing a ‘combat dance’,” Noonan told Storyful.

Video footage captured by Noonan shows the snakes wrestling and fighting with each other in the middle of the trail path.

“What are they doing,” one person in the video ask while another hums and another laughs.

Click below to watch these two timber rattlers battle it out

“Oh my god, that’s crazy,” another person can be heard saying.

“Super cool!” says another.

One of the only two venomous species in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to 14 species of snakes of which two, including timber rattlesnakes, are venomous, according to the state’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. The other venomous snake species is the copperhead. The two species are found in only a few areas of the state and are state listed as endangered species.

Timber rattlesnakes are large, heavy-bodied pit vipers with broad, triangular heads and variable color patterns, as per the wildlife division. While some are almost jet black, other are sulfur-yellow with black, brown, or rust-colored blotches. Unlike any other rattlesnake species in North America, they don’t have stripes or bands on their heads and faces. Every time they shed skin, they add a new rattle segment, which is an indication of their age.

Massachusetts timber rattlesnakes are active from mid-April to mid-October and can mostly be found in the state’s western counties.

Noonan’s colleague, Susan Maloney, also a teacher at Parker Elementary School Teacher, told WBZ News that she’d never seen anything like this before.

“I’ve been hiking the Blue Hills my whole life,” Maloney said. “Never seen one in there so I was surprised.”

Given the rarity of the encounter, the teachers plan to show the videos and images to their students at school.

“They love studying snakes and frogs, and it does lead into like OK why don’t we do a little studying about snakes? Why don’t we learn about them,” Noonan told WBZ.

What to do if you spot a timber rattlesnake

The Massachusetts wildlife division advises the public to maintain a safe distance if they ever encounter these venomous species.

“Do not handle or otherwise disturb them,” says the department.

The department also requests those who spot these reptiles to submit their observations to them to help with conservation efforts.

“Your reports provide critical information that informs future habitat management and wildlife conservation for future generations,” the dept. says.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

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Massachusetts

Max McColgan and Joseph Lenane share stroke play medals at 118th Massachusetts Amateur Championship – The Boston Globe

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2026

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Max McColgan and Joseph Lenane share stroke play medals at 118th Massachusetts Amateur Championship – The Boston Globe

Max McColgan of Nashawtuc CC and Joseph Lenane of George Wright GC shared the Harry B. McCracken Jr. medal after finishing a rain-suspended second round of stroke play at 3-under-par in the 118th Massachusetts Amateur at Winchester Country Club on Wednesday.

McColgan and Lenane advanced into match play as the top two seeds, but only one of them advanced past the Round of 32. McColgan beat Dylan Greenwald of The Haven CC, 2-and-1, but Lenane fell to No. 31 seed Ricky Stimets of Barnstable Golf on the 19th hole of their match. Stimets will face Zachary Georgantas of Foxborough CC in the Round of 16 after Georgantas needed 21 holes to beat Joey Monahan at his home course.

Patrick Kilcoyne, who was the runner-up last year at GreatHorse, finished stroke play tied for third with 2024 champion Matthew Naumec at 2-under. Kilcoyne scored a 1-up victory over Winchester CC’s Jake Peer in match play, while Naumec won a thriller over Kyle Tibbetts in 22 holes in the final match of the day.

Elsewhere in the round of 32, No. 27 seed Maxx Zides finished 1 up over No. 6 seed Sam Grindle, while No. 24 seed Ben Spitz held on to finish 1 up on No. 9 seed Conner Willett as well.

Match play will continue on Thursday, with McColgan teeing off against C.J. Winchenbaugh at 7:30 a.m. in the round of 16 to start a busy day of action on the course. A 36-hole final is scheduled for Friday.

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Massachusetts

Cool off this summer at these 10 splash pads in central Massachusetts

Published

14 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Cool off this summer at these 10 splash pads in central Massachusetts

Looking for a way the kids can cool off after the Fourth of July heat wave?

In addition to numerous public beaches and pools, central Massachusetts has multiple splash pads open this time of year, offering the perfect way for children to enjoy being in the water without the hassle of a beach day. While some are ticketed, many of the region’s splash pads are free, with parks, playgrounds and other recreational areas attached.

Here are 10 splash pads where you can beat the heat in central Massachusetts this summer.

Tacoma Street Spray Park

Decked out with umbrellas and chairs, green water buckets and a frog to run under, Tacoma Street Spray Park is one of Worcester’s newer spray parks, located on the 18.9-acre Tacoma Street Playground. The park also has a basketball court and picnic area.

Like all of Worcester’s splash pads, Tacoma Street Spray Park is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily through Sept. 7. Located at 345 Tacoma St. in Worcester.

Park Hill Splash Park

This small splash pad in Fitchburg features rainbow rings to run through and a large sun design painted on the ground. The splash pad is part of Park Hill Park, which also has a skateboard park, two playgrounds, a basketball court, several baseball fields and restrooms.

Park Hill Splash Park is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from June through August. Lifeguards are always onsite, and parking is available off Pratt Road in Fitchburg.

Cowabunga Splash Park

Davis Farmland in Sterling is back for a second year with Cowabunga Splash Park, the largest zero-depth water spray park in New England. Built with a state-of-the-art, computer-controlled water filtration system, the park features every kind of mister and sprinkler imaginable, including horse cannons, a water tunnel, a water table, a toddler spray pad and more. The park also has a giant slip-and-slide, an inflatable water slide and a huge water tower.

Admission to Davis Farmland, which includes access to over 50 activities, costs $35.95 for adults or $32.95 for seniors over 60, though tickets cost more at the gate.

COWabunga Splash Park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day from now through Labor Day, with the water slide and slip-and-slide opening at 10:30 a.m. Davis Farmland is located at 145 Redstone Hill Road in Sterling.

Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park

Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park is a larger spray pad full of bright colors, water spouts and buckets dropping water from above. It is attached to Cristoforo Colombo Park, which also has a playground, fields, basketball courts and a baseball diamond.

The spray park is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily at 180 Shrewsbury St. in Worcester.

Fournier Park Splash Pad

Located inside the Arthur A. Fournier Sr. Memorial Park, this splash pad spouts water from various flowers, a frog and even a dragon. The water must be turned on by pressing an orange button on the pavilion side of the splash pad, and it runs for 12 to 14 minutes at a time.

This splash pad is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., starting Memorial Day weekend and lasting through Labor Day. Located at 525 Litchfield St. in Leominster.

Ghiloni Park Splash Pad

Ghiloni Park in Marlborough also has a splash pad with flowers and frogs, located right next to the park’s playground. Water is activated by placing a hand on the sensor of the green activator pole.

The Ghiloni Park Splash Pad is open from June 2 through Sept. 7, with daily hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 239 Concord Road in Marlborough.

University (Crystal) Spray Park

Just opened last year, the splash pad at Worcester’s University Park features various tall water spouts for the kids to run through, surrounded by a playground, walking trails, pond views and plenty of umbrellas.

From now through Sept. 7, the spray park is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. Located at 965 Main St. in Worcester.

Philbin Memorial Park and Splash Pad

Clinton’s Philbin Memorial Park has a newly renovated splash pad that turns on by touching the top of the red fire hydrant. The water runs for four to five cycles and then rests for 10 to 15 minutes.

Philbin’s splash pad is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with hours from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Located at Berlin and Wilson streets in Clinton.

Carbuncle Pond Splash Pad

Located right next to the beach at Carbuncle Pond, this colorful splash pad is conveniently equipped with lifeguard staffing, concessions and indoor public restrooms. Resident and nonresident passes are sold online or at the gate.

The splash pad and the beach are open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 495 Main St. in Oxford.

Greenwood Spray Park

Attached to a new playground, Greenwood Park’s splash pad has various sprinklers and buckets of water. The spray park usually has an attendant, and bathrooms are attached.

Worcester’s Greenwood Spray Park is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily through Sept. 7. Located at 14 Forsberg St. in Worcester.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts man dies in Fiji after becoming critically ill on sailing trip

Published

1 day ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Massachusetts man dies in Fiji after becoming critically ill on sailing trip

A Holbrook, Massachusetts man who fell critically ill while sailing through the South Pacific has died, his family told WBZ-TV Tuesday evening.

Scott Winslow was in intensive care at a hospital in Fiji for weeks, as his family fought to get him back home so he could be treated for septic shock and a serious infection.

Winslow’s wife and two daughters had made the 8,000-mile trip to be with him and fight for his care when he died.

“We are at the hospital and just said goodbye to our father,” his daughters told WBZ-TV. “We are heartbroken.”

Winslow was traveling on his nephew’s sailboat in the South Pacific on what was supposed to be a three-month voyage when he noticed what appeared to be a bug bite.

His family isn’t sure exactly what the cause of the illness was, but his condition quickly deteriorated, and he could no longer walk once they diverted the boat to Fiji.

The family provided WBZ medical documents from doctors in Fiji, who said he needed to be evacuated to another hospital.

The family said his insurance company, Aetna, denied the transport and the medical flight to get Winslow home would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Winslow’s family said they had secured medical services with the Mass General Brigham group if he got back to Massachusetts.

“I don’t understand. My problem is, my parents pay for insurance, this is what insurance is for,” Lisa Babbin, Scott’s daughter told WBZ-TV earlier on Tuesday.

Before Winslow died, WBZ-TV reached out to Aetna. In a statement, a spokesperson said they were continuing to work with Winslow’s family “and his providers in Fiji to identify the best way to get him back safely to the United States for continued treatment.”

The Winslow family had also reached out the U.S. Embassy in Fiji for help securing an emergency loan.