Endangered New Jersey

Get Local: Essex County Endangered Species

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

I posted earlier about how Endangered Species Day really needs to be every day, especially in a densely populated state like New Jersey. I live in Essex County, New Jersey, one of the most densely populated counties in the state—and in the entire U.S. As of 2024 estimates, it has roughly 850,000 residents living within about 130 square miles, giving it a population density of around 6,500 people per square mile. Essex ranks among the top three most densely populated counties in New Jersey, alongside Hudson and Union.

But it is not without wildlife and green areas, and, of course, some rare, endangered, and threatened wildlife and plant species. Newark, East Orange, and Irvington account for much of that density, with Newark alone exceeding 11,000 people per square mile. But towns such as Cedar Grove, Montclair, and Livingston are less dense—typically 2,000–4,000 people per square mile—but still tightly settled compared to rural counties.

High population density means fragmented habitats and pressure on green spaces, making local conservation efforts—like those highlighted in the poster —especially vital. Protecting remaining wetlands, forest corridors, and stream buffers helps maintain biodiversity amid urban growth.

The poster highlights the rare wildlife found across the county’s forests, wetlands, and river corridors—from the Watchung Mountains to the Passaic and Rahway watersheds. It features species such as the bog turtle, timber rattlesnake, Indiana bat, and peregrine falcon, along with native plants like swamp pink and American chaffseed that thrive in protected habitats. All of these depend on the Watchung Mountains and Passaic River corridor for survival.

World Ocean Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

World Oceans Day is observed every year on June 8. This date is consistent across all UN member states and has been officially recognized by the United Nations since 2008. It’s an annual international observance dedicated to ocean protection, awareness, and sustainable stewardship.

If you're not involved in conservation efforts around our oceans, one way to celebrate World Ocean Day is with a collection of free educational resources about Earth’s oceans from The Open University's Science courses and qualifications.

The oceans cover more than 70 per cent of our planet. Discover the wonders of our oceans - on Earth and beyond. From interactive games like Ocean Explorer to free courses and thought-provoking articles (including oceans in space!), this collection brings together a wealth of learning to inspire curiosity and care for our marine world.

New Jersey has several ways to celebrate World Oceans Day and oceans in general throughout the year.

New Jersey World Ocean Day Beach Cleanup — Wildwood Crest
Date: June 6, 2026 11am (held the weekend before World Oceans Day)
Rambler Road Beach, E Heather Road & The Beach, Wildwood Crest, NJ
Volunteers remove debris, receive orientation, and may get a free event t‑shirt if registered early. All ages welcome; minors need an adult.
Clean Ocean Action holds Statewide Beach Sweeps (related coastal stewardship). While not tied specifically to June 8, Clean Ocean Action runs one of the largest coastal cleanup programs in the state. Their next major event is October 24, 2026. 9:00 AM–12:30 PM at 80+ beaches across New Jersey. This long‑running cleanup effort removes millions of debris items; volunteers of all ages welcome.

Endangered Species Days

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Tue, 26 May 2026 11:01:00 +0000

Endangered Species Day is an annual, globally recognized day—held on the third Friday of May (this year it was on the 15th) dedicated to celebrating, learning about, and taking action to protect threatened and endangered species. But a day is not enough.

It was established by the U.S. Congress with leadership from the National Wildlife Federation and has since grown into an international observance involving schools, conservation groups, communities, and individuals.

So why does the day matter? More than one‑third of U.S. wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. Endangered Species Day is a reminder that conservation efforts—legal protections, habitat restoration, and community engagement—work and are urgently needed.

Here are some suggestions for things you can do any day of the year that make a difference.

Attend or host events such as talks, film screenings, habitat cleanups, or nature walks.
Learn about endangered species, from mountain gorillas to red wolves to local pollinators.
Participate in creative activities, like chalk art contests or wildlife crafts for kids.
Support conservation organizations through volunteering or donations.
Raising awareness of species at risk of extinction and the ecosystems they depend on.
Highlighting conservation successes, such as species whose populations have rebounded thanks to the Endangered Species Act.
Encouraging public action—from habitat restoration to citizen science.
Celebrating biodiversity, especially local wildlife and habitats.

Review the complete list for New Jersey

dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/endangered-threatened-and-special-concern-species

Horseshoe Crabs Return to Cape May County

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 23 May 2026 16:57:55 +0000

In this annual rite of spring, the beaches of Cape May and the broader Delaware Bay region play host to one of the oldest, most spectacular wildlife phenomena on Earth: the mass spawning of Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus).

This ritual has been repeated for nearly 450 million years—meaning these "living fossils" arrived on these exact shores long before the first dinosaurs walked the earth.

While horseshoe crabs begin trickling onto the beaches in late April, the main event happens in May and June. The absolute peak centers around the Full and New Moons, specifically during evening high tides. May 2026 has two Full Moons to start and end the month.

Driven by the high spring tides, tens of thousands of crabs emerge from the deep bay waters simultaneously. Large, smooth-shelled females crawl up to the high-tide line, often trailing one or more smaller males holding onto her carapace (shell) with specialized, boxing-glove-like claws. The female digs a shallow nest in the sand to deposit up to 20,000 tiny, greenish-tan eggs. The males then fertilize them as the waves wash over the cluster.

At its height, the shoreline looks less like a beach and more like a cobblestone street paved in dark, gleaming, olive-green helmets jostling in the surf.

The arrival of the crabs triggers a second, equally spectacular natural event. The Delaware Bay is the largest horseshoe crab spawning site in the world, and the millions of eggs left in the sand are a vital fuel source for migrating shorebirds.

Among these birds is the Rufa Red Knot, a threatened species undertaking an incredible 9,000-mile journey from the tip of South America up to the Canadian Arctic. Cape May is their ultimate refueling station. The birds arrive emaciated, having lost up to half their body weight. They gorge themselves almost exclusively on the lipid-rich, easily digestible horseshoe crab eggs that are churned up to the surface by the waves.

In just about two weeks, a Red Knot must double its body mass to survive the final leg of its journey north to breed. Without a dense concentration of crab eggs, the birds cannot successfully reach the Arctic or reproduce.

If you head down to the Cape May area to see it, the Delaware Bay side beaches (like Reeds Beach, Cook's Beach, or Higbee Beach) offer far more intense spawning activity than the oceanfront Atlantic beaches, as the crabs prefer the calmer, wave-protected waters of the bay.

Because both the horseshoe crabs and the shorebirds are highly vulnerable, many of Cape May's key bay beaches are seasonally closed to the public during the peak weeks to prevent disturbing the birds. However, public viewing platforms and guided walks hosted by organizations like the Cape May Bird Observatory offer spectacular front-row seats to this ancient dance.

Progress on New Jersey's Newest State Park

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 09 May 2026 14:47:00 +0000

New Jersey's newest State Park spans nine miles from Montclair to Jersey City on a former rail line that has been transformed into a vibrant linear park that will provide recreation, transit access, and community connections for over 1.5 million residents.

The nearly one-mile Newark segment of the park was the first to be constructed following the groundbreaking in July of 2025. Once complete, walkers, joggers and cyclists will be able to travel from Branch Brook Park Drive to Broadway on a meandering ADA-accessible trail lined with native plantings.

Once complete, the nine-mile greenway will connect eight municipalities across Essex and Hudson counties – Jersey City, Secaucus, Kearny, Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Montclair.

The Greenway’s design includes several features that enhance safety and user experience while preserving the surrounding environment. Downward-facing lighting will ensure pathways are well-lit without disturbing nearby residents or natural habitats. The project also features separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, designed to promote safe speeds and provide places to sit and enjoy the trail’s natural setting.

The property that will become New Jersey’s newest state park is closed to public access while under development. Due to the legacy of industrial pollution in the vicinity, its prior railroad usage, and the dilapidation of existing infrastructure, the future park is not currently suitable for public use. The construction of the park is ongoing, and it is expected to be fully developed and open to the public by the end of 2026.

New Jersey's Newest State Park - State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by New Jersey State Parks (@newjerseystateparks)

Send Rutgers Your Ticks

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 01 May 2026 21:00:00 +0000

The weather is feeling more like late spring and on some days already summer. That means you're likely to be outside more. And that means you're more likely to encounter ticks on you or your pets.

Ticks for Science! is a citizen science project organized by the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology. Their goal is to create a tick map showing the changing distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in NJ and bring more awareness to tick-borne disease.

If you encounter a tick in New Jersey, you can send it to us, and we will test it for disease-causing pathogens for free! With your help, we will learn where and when people are exposed to ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Yes, they want you to send them your ticks!

Multiple life stages of common ticks of NJ - photo by Andrea Egizi, PhD

The site provides information on how to prevent tick bites, removal and about tick-borne diseases.

New Jersey's One Rattlesnake

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0000

With warmer weather, many of us are more likely to be out walking in rural and forested areas of our state. Like many people, I'm a bit wary of snakes, but I know about their importance in the ecosystem. That fear is almost always tied to a lack of knowledge about them and an inability to differentiate between the poisonous ones and the non-poisonous ones. So, it troubles me to see headlines like 4 Rattlesnake Hotspots In New Jersey "Hotspot" hints at a place where they are slithering all around, and that is not reality.

There are 23 snakes that have made New Jersey their home. New Jersey has only two venomous snakes - the Northern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake.

The Timber Rattlesnake, also called the Canebrake Rattlesnake, can reach 60 inches (152 cm) in length and weigh up to 1,500 grams. They have keeled scales with dark brown to black crossbands on a yellow-brown to gray background and a characteristic rattle on the tail. A Timber rattlesnake's color varies and can be characterized by either a yellow or black phase of keeled scales.

Timber rattlesnake Photo by Kris Schantz via state.nj.us/dep/

The yellow phase coloring means the ground color is yellow to brown, featuring dark brown or black jagged “V-shape” blotches and bands towards the snake's head. The black phase coloring features a similar pattern to the yellow phase; however, the dark brown to black color obscures most of the snake's pattern. In both instances, the snake's head remains unmarked, and the last few inches of the tail are dark brown or solid black in adults. Additionally, sometimes Timber rattlesnakes may be completely black.

While potentially the most dangerous snake in New Jersey due to size and venom yield, they are generally mild-mannered and give warning signals before striking. There have been no reported instances of bites other than by those handling the snakes (which is not recommended unless you're a trained snake handler). However, that doesn’t mean these snakes aren’t dangerous. If threatened, they will defend themselves, so always keep a safe distance.

Timber Rattlesnakes are ambush predators, feeding on small mammals, frogs, birds, and other snakes. They are found in lowland thickets, river floodplains, agricultural areas, and deciduous or coniferous forests.

This snake is a state-endangered species, with only three timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) populations remaining. These remaining populations include New Jersey's northern region along the Kittatinny Ridge, southern New Jersey within the Pine Barrens, and the Highlands region.

Download an illustrated Snakes of New Jersey brochure

sample page from brochure

Essential Pollinators

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:08:00 +0000

After last week's spring and summerish weather, you might be seeing more pollinators in your neighborhood.

Pollinators — including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and moths — are essential to New Jersey’s food, gardens, and natural areas: roughly one out of every three bites of food depends on animal pollination, and local programs from Rutgers and Jersey‑Friendly Yards offer practical, region‑specific ways to help.

Pollinators transfer pollen that enables plants to produce fruits, seeds, and nuts. This service supports about one‑third of global food production and underpins many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds that make diets nutritious.

In the United States, insect pollination was valued at tens of billions of dollars, reflecting the economic importance of these species to agriculture and local farms. New Jersey crops that rely on pollinators include blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, and peppers. Native bees and honey bees both contribute to these yields.

Native plantings and small habitat patches in yards, parks, and roadsides make a measurable difference because many pollinators are short‑ranged and depend on continuous floral resources.

Primary threats to pollinators are habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease and parasites, and climate change. Populations of many pollinator species have declined in recent decades, which can reduce crop yields and the availability of nutrient‑rich foods.

What are some practical actions for New Jersey residents?

Plant native species that bloom from early spring through fall to provide continuous nectar and pollen. Rutgers and Jersey‑Friendly Yards offer region‑specific plant lists and planting guides.
Cluster plantings and include host plants for caterpillars (e.g., milkweed for monarchs) to support both adult pollinators and larvae.
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use and adopt integrated pest management; when treatment is necessary, apply at night and avoid bloom periods.
Provide nesting and water resources: leave some bare ground for ground‑nesting bees, retain dead wood for cavity nesters, and offer shallow water sources.
Replacing lawns with native plantings reduces mowing and chemical use but may require initial investment and maintenance. Expect some leaf or caterpillar feeding on host plants; this is normal and supports butterfly life cycles.

Jersey‑Friendly Yards provides planting guides and local tips for New Jersey homeowners.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers county‑level guidance, native plant lists, and Master Gardener programs.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Jersey Field Office publishes recommended native plant lists for pollinators and habitat restoration guidance.

See a list (pdf) of Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects for our Mid-Atlantic Region

Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area is a 3,461-acre landscape in Morris and Sussex counties. The site is part of a large tract of the Sparta Mountain Greenway that extends along the westernmost ridge of the New Jersey Highlands.

The WMA is adjacent to the Newark Watershed Property, the Pequannock Watershed, and the Hamburg WMA, and is located within the Highlands Preservation Area.

In 2009, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife partnered with New Jersey Audubon to create and implement a Forest Stewardship Plan at Sparta Mountain WMA with two primary goals: to manage aging portions of the forest providing essential habitat for species like the red-shouldered hawk and barred owl, and to create openings in the canopy allowing light to reach the ground, triggering new growth of oaks, blackberries and native grasses. This successful management has provided more diverse habitats and a greater variety of wildlife species.

Sparta Mountain WMA is one of the rare places in New Jersey where you might spot the state's endangered golden-winged warbler, a tiny, vibrant bird that serves as an "umbrella species". By creating the young forest it needs to survive, we are also helping at least 30 other declining species, including the Baltimore oriole, Canada warbler, scarlet tanager, and indigo bunting. Also commonly seen here are the mysterious whip-poor-will, as well as red-shouldered hawks and barred owls, which have benefited from the hunting areas created by the new growth following the forest management work. A variety of other species inhabit the WMA, including turtles, black bears and bobcats.

Ryker Lake can be found within the WMA. The lake was previously managed under special Conservation Regulations for bass, sunfish and yellow perch. These regulations were recently changed for 2026, and the lake is now managed under General Regulations for all species. Pickerel, crappie and catfish can also be caught. It features a car-top boat launch, and propulsion at the lake is by paddle or electric motor only.

The Sparta Mountain WMA is open for deer, small game, turkey, and waterfowl hunting. Deer hunting in DMZ 6 is excellent, especially in forested areas where turkeys also flock in great numbers in THA 7 due to mast production from the trees. The WMA is also open for trapping.

NJDEP| Fish & Wildlife | WMA Highlight - Sparta Mountain

Owned by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Area System is comprised of more than 360,000 acres in 122 areas throughout the state, which is more than 44% of New Jersey’s state-owned public open space. WMAs are maintained and supported with funding from hunting and fishing license sales, the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program.

Essex County Cherry Blossom Time

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:16:00 +0000

Brown Trout Stocking Information

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:01:00 +0000

Opening day of trout season this year is Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 8 a.m.

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife announced the stocking of brown trout this spring. They will receive 20,000 Brown Trout for stocking this spring thanks to a partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

Brown Trout were stocked in the following lakes and ponds on Friday, March 20. These waterbodies are OPEN to fishing:

Round Valley Reservoir
Manny's Pond
Mountain Farm Pond
Amwell Lake
Rosedale Lake
Rowands Pond
Oak Pond
South Vineland Park Pond
Crystal Lake
Sylvan Lake
Laurel Pond
Shaws Mill Pond
Greenwich Lake
Brown Trout will also be stocked in Diamond Mill Pond on Friday, March 27.

Brown Trout will be available in the following rivers beginning Opening Day, April 11:

Manasquan River
Toms River
Rahway River (Including the West Branch)
Rockaway River
South Branch of the Raritan River (Below Lake Solitude)
Musconetcong River (Below Route 31)
Paulinskill River
Raritan River Mainstem

All trout-stocked lakes and ponds will remain open year-round to fishing and are no longer closed during the preseason stocking period. There is a 2 trout daily possession limit until opening day (April 11 at 8 a.m.), when the limit increases to 6 trout per day.

Rivers and streams are CLOSED to fishing during the preseason stocking period, March 23 – April 11 at 8 a.m.

Spring Trout Fishing Information

Purchase License and Trout Stamp

Moths as Pollinators

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

We wrote earlier about how New Jersey moths survive our winters. Today, we are thinking about warmer weather and how moths act as surprisingly good pollinators.

When we think of pollinators, bees are probably the first thing that comes to mind. Moths are more efficient than bees at pollinating some plants.

A handful of moth species that eat our clothes, invade our pantries, and destroy our crops have given them all a bad name for many people, but most moth species are not pests.

In terms of species, moths are about eight times more diverse than bees, and 10 times more diverse than butterflies, which actually evolved from moth ancestors. In fact, we now know that moths are the single most diverse group of pollinators on Earth, with more than 123,000 species visiting flowers around the world.

Source: The Secret Lives of Moths - Nautilus

Also see Butterflies and Moths - BugGuide.Net

Polyphemus Moth

The Invasive Northern Snakehead

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:00:00 +0000

It may sound like something out of science fiction: A three-foot-long fish that can breathe air, “walk” on land and survive for days out of the water, but the northern snakehead is very real. Perhaps more importantly, it’s very invasive.

You may see these kinds of headlines: These Large, Snake-Like Fish Are Invading the United States—and Authorities Want You to Kill Them. But are they in New Jersey?

Yes, the Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) is firmly established in New Jersey. They are classified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as a "Potentially Dangerous Species" due to their invasive nature and the threat they pose to native aquatic ecosystems. They were first confirmed in New Jersey in 2009 and have since spread significantly.

Northern snakeheads are a predatory invasive fish originally from Asia that survive in freshwater lakes, creeks, rivers, and even muddy wetlands. They’re known for aggressive behavior, air-breathing ability, and fast spread.

They are most common in the Delaware River and its many tidal tributaries throughout South and Central Jersey. Current hotspots are the counties of Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington which have seen the highest concentrations.

They have been reported as far north as Sussex County near the New York and Pennsylvania borders. They inhabit a variety of environments, including rivers, lakes, ponds, and even stagnant, low-oxygen ditches.

The warm months (late spring – summer) are when snakeheads are most active and easier to encounter near shorelines and vegetation. They prefer shallow, warm, vegetated water with slow current — lily pads, weedbeds, and quiet backwaters are typical. They can breathe air and survive in low-oxygen water, making them adaptable to many habitats.

They eat almost anything, including native fish (like bass and perch), frogs, and even small birds, outcompeting local species for food. Snakeheads are "top-tier" predators with a "slash-and-grab" feeding style.

They are air-breathers and can survive out of water for several days in damp conditions, allowing them to migrate across land to reach new water bodies.

They spawn multiple times a year and guard their young, which leads to rapid population growth.

Snakeheads are frequently confused with the native Bowfin. You can tell the difference by the anal fin (the fin on the bottom rear): a snakehead’s anal fin is very long (nearly half its body length), while a Bowfin’s is quite short. The bowfin is native to North American freshwater systems and has a long dorsal fin only on top — unlike northern snakeheads, which have both long dorsal and long anal fins on the underside.

Important Rules for Anglers (2026 Regulations)

If you catch a Northern Snakehead in New Jersey, you must follow specific legal protocols:

It is strictly illegal to possess, transport, or release a live snakehead.
Anglers are required to destroy the fish immediately. You cannot keep them alive in a bucket or on a stringer.
You are allowed to keep them for food, but they must be dead before you leave the water.
The NJDEP encourages reporting catches via their Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Reporting Form to help track their spread.

Hooked on Fishing Team Leader Training

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Are you involved with an organization interested in getting youth fishing? Then register to attend the two-day Hooked on Fishing Team Leader Training!

This training is intended for adults interested in leading a youth fishing team as part of NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's Hooked on Fishing program.

The Hooked on Fishing program partners with schools, the community, and faith-based organizations to establish youth fishing teams. Once your team is established, the Hooked on Fishing program will provide resources and support to ensure your students keep fishing.

Teams are led by an adult(s) who dedicate their time, skills, and energy to implement the program. This training prepares YOU to LEAD a group of youth in the program from beginning to end.

March 28 AND April 18, 2025
Neptune High School, Neptune, NJ
Deadline to register is March 16, 2026

Information and registration

At Sandy Hook This Month

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:34:00 +0000

OSPREY (Fish Hawk)

Spring is almost here. The ospreys are on their way back, bird songs fill the air, and the days are getting longer. There are many ways to enjoy this new season at Gateway National Recreation Area - from ranger programs to volunteer events. Gateway is composed of three units spanning two states and 27,000 acres.

The Jamaica Bay and Staten Island units are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p..m with the exception of Canarsie Pier and Jacob Riis Park, which are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Sandy Hook Unit is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Sandy Hook Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MARCH AT THE Sandy Hook Unit

Sandy Hook Visitor Center and Park Store

Saturday and Sunday

10 am - 4 pm

Seal and Winter Waterfowl Walk with the American Littoral Society

Building 18, American Littoral Society Headquarters

Friday, March 13

10 am - 12 pm

Please make your reservation at LittoralSociety.org

Restoring Battery Gunnison/New Peck

Battery Gunnison

Saturday, March 14

12 pm - 5 pm

A Stitch in Time - A 1940s Knit and Crochet Social

Sandy Hook History House, Building 1

Sunday, March 22

9:30 am - 11:30 am

Please make your reservation through Eventbrite

Check the calendar for all three locations

New Signs at Trout-Stocked Waterbodies

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:12:00 +0000

New Jersey offers some of the best trout fishing opportunities you will find in the northeast – and its not just a spring thing anymore. Stocking programs in spring and fall provide for excellent year-round trout fishing opportunities in the Garden State.

Be on the lookout for brand‑new “Trout Stocked Water” signs at stocked waterbodies across New Jersey this year. These updated, durable signs replace the older version and make it easier than ever for anglers to get the information they need on the water.

Each sign features a QR code that connects you to:
The Trout Stocking Schedule
Additional trout fishing resources
Our new, easy‑to‑use, map‑based Fishing Regulations App, which provides location‑specific regulations for every freshwater waterbody in New Jersey. Simply select the waterbody where you plan to fish, and a pop‑up will display location-specific regulations, including special waterbody regulations and species harvest regulations.

Frogs in Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:32:00 +0000

This is another look at how some species survive through the winter. Previously, we looked at birds, moths, and bear cubs. Today, we're thinking about how frogs make it through winters in NJ when their watery habitats are frozen.

Many frogs spend their entire winter under ice, essentially looking like living "underwater rocks." Some species of frogs are at the bottom of frozen ponds and slow-moving rivers. However, they don’t all use the same survival strategy.

Here are three survival strategies.

Since the surface is capped with ice, frogs can't exactly pop up for a gulp of air. Instead, they rely on cutaneous respiration. They absorb the limited oxygen dissolved in the pond water directly through their skin. To make this work, they have to stay very still to keep their oxygen demand to a bare minimum.

For most aquatic frogs—like Bullfrogs and Northern Leopard Frogs—the goal is to stay cold but not frozen. They sink to the bottom of the pond. They don't burrow deep into the mud (like turtles do) because they need to stay in contact with the oxygenated water. They spend the winter in a state called brumation, where their heart rate slows to a crawl, and their metabolism almost stops.

If you see a frog near the surface or under some leaf litter, that’s likely a Wood Frog. These frogs are the overachievers of the winter world. They don't usually stay underwater; they stay on land under leaves. They actually freeze solid. Their heart stops, and their breathing ceases. They use a natural "antifreeze" (glucose/sugar) to keep their cells from bursting. When spring hits, they "thaw" out and hop away like nothing happened.

The biggest threat to a frog under the ice isn't the cold—it's the oxygen. If a pond is shallow and covered in thick snow, sunlight can't reach the plants to produce oxygen. If the oxygen in the water runs out before the thaw, the frogs (and the fish) won't make it.

Field Trips and Classroom Programs for Students Available

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:05:00 +0000

TEACHERS: Pequest Natural Resource Education Center is now accepting group reservations for 2026 field trips and classroom programs.

Fish and Wildlife offers year-round programming for schools and organized groups at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center. All programs are designed to support most major subject areas in grades pre-K – 12 while teaching about wildlife and the environment, and can be used to meet state standards for core course proficiencies as well as scout badge requirements.

For example, hikes focus on wildlife habitat and natural resources, sessions on river ecology, fishing, biology. From a hatchery tour to fishing basics or exploring trout habitat along the Pequest River, there might be a field trip that fits your grade level and curriculum.

All programs are geared to be fun, hands-on learning experiences that participants are sure to enjoy.

Bring your students, scouts, or homeschool groups to the trout hatchery and education center for a field trip they'll never forget! Learn how trout are raised on a hatchery tour, explore the Pequest River, or have your students learn to fish.

Get information and schedule your field trip to Pequest at dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/group-programs-at-pequest/

Can't manage a field trip to Pequest? NJ Fish & Wildlife also offers classroom programs. Looking for an engaging classroom presentation? NJDEP Fish & Wildlife offers those too!

Have your students learn about wildlife, conservation, and more!

Educators are available for in-classroom and public presentations, community fairs and festivals. Fish & Wildlife staff can conduct presentations live at your facility on request. There is no charge for this service, and hands-on activities can be included with the presentations. Programs can all be adapted to grade-level and specific interests. All programs run from 45 to 90 minutes. Please note groups may only schedule one to two programs per year.

Check out the list of programs offered and request a presentation today.

dep.nj.gov/njfw/education/speakers-and-exhibitors/

Bear Cubs in Winter and Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

We have a few months before we are going to see any bear cubs wandering around New Jersey. But on another blog, I wrote about the February Full Moon as being the "Bear Cub Moon."

It may seem like some kind of magic to most people that a mother bear goes into a hole she dug in the ground in the fall and emerges in the spring with a couple of new, fuzzy, walking cubs. This magic trick is some very amazing biological engineering.

The hidden-from-view birth of a bear cub is fascinating. Bears actually mate in the late spring or early summer, but the mother doesn’t technically become pregnant right away. Through a process called delayed implantation, the fertilized egg remains as a tiny ball of cells (a blastocyst) floating in her uterus for months.

It only implants and begins to grow in the late fall, and only if the mother has gained enough weight. If she didn't eat enough berries or fish to survive the winter, her body would simply reabsorb the embryo, ensuring she doesn't try to raise cubs she can't support.

Cubs are typically born in January or February, right in the heart of winter. While we call it hibernation, the mother isn't "dead to the world." She is in a state of light dormancy. She is alert enough to wake up, give birth, lick the cubs clean, and nudge them toward her belly to nurse.

Because the cubs are so tiny, labor is relatively quick and much less physically taxing than it is for humans.

Newborn cubs are incredibly primitive—often described as "fetal-like." They weigh less than a pound (about the size of a stick of butter or a teacup) and are born blind, nearly hairless, and totally helpless.

newborn bear cub nps.gov

Because they are so small, researchers often call the time in the den an "external pregnancy." Once the cub is born, it soon begins to nurse. A newborn cub’s physiology changes from one that couldn’t survive on fat in the womb to a system that can better metabolize fat. The mother provides all the nourishment that the cub needs, and the den offers warmth and protection.

For the next several months, the den acts as a surrogate womb for the rapidly growing cub. Instead of growing inside the mother where they would drain her protein and mineral stores, they grow outside her body, fueled by her fat-rich milk.

Perhaps, the most amazing part is how they survive for months without a snack or a bathroom break: Mother bears produce milk that is incredibly high in fat (up to 30% fat), which allows the cubs to grow from less than 1 pound to about 5–10 pounds by spring.

The mother bear does not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate for months. Her body is a closed loop; she recycles her own urea (waste) back into protein to maintain her muscle mass while she sleeps.

The den acts as a giant incubator. The mother curls around the cubs, using her body heat to keep them at a steady temperature while the snow piles up outside.

Whales and New Jersey: Sperm Whales

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:40:00 +0000

Although New Jersey probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when people think of the home of whales, our 127 miles of coastline certainly sees many of them offshore.

If you have witnessed firsthand a whale surfacing from the deeps of an ocean, it is surely memorable. With their tremendous size and sometimes surprising gracefulness, whales are still somewhat of a mystery to even scientists who study them.

Whales are still hunted globally, but they are also protected in some parts of the world, including the Atlantic Ocean off the NJ coast. Six species of whales are protected when they are in New Jersey waters because they are Federally Endangered.

Whale, North Atlantic right**	Eubalaena glacialis**
Whale, blue**	Balaenoptera musculus**
Whale, fin**	Balaenoptera physalus**
Whale, humpback**	Megaptera novaeangliae**
Whale, sei**	Balaenoptera borealis**
Whale,sperm**	Physeter macrocephalus**
**Federally Endangered

Cetaceans is the order that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It is divided into
two suborders: Odontoceti and Mysticeti.

Odonoceti have teeth and a single blowhole, or nostril, at the top of the head. The sperm whale is in this suborder.

The Mysticetes, or baleen whales, have no teeth and two blowholes. Instead of teeth, great plates of horny baleen, which extend from the upper jaw, are used to strain
food from large mouthfuls of water. The other five species listed here are in that suborder.

I will take a brief look at those whale species in posts over the next few months as we head to the Jersey shore and gaze into the Atlantic - and maybe even do some whale watching.

Mother and baby sperm whale - Wikimedia

Sperm whales (Family Physeteridae) are best known as the nemesis of Captain Ahab in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. There are not many reports of sperm whales attacking ships these days.

They are in the suborder of Odonoceti, and so they have teeth. They also have a single blowhole, and the sperm whale is the only one in that suborder that regularly produces a visible spout or blow. The whaling ship cry of "Thar she blows" comes from the hunting of the sperm whale for its once very valuable oil. The blowhole is far left of the center and far forward on the head, and emits a distinctive spout that is bushy and angled sharply forward.

Sperm whale spout - via Flickr

These whales have a distinctive jaw that both recedes and is located directly under the head's center. This huge head extends a quarter to a third of its entire length, which can be as much as 21 m (69 ft.).

The sperm whale's skin, a dark brownish gray, looks corrugated. Two-thirds of the way
back from the snout, the whale has a distinguishing dorsal hump; behind that are a number
of bumps. The sperm whale has a keel on its belly, and the flukes, or sides of the flat tail,
are broad, triangular, and heavily notched at their back edges.

Sperm whales are usually observed in deep waters, far from most coastlines, and are not usually encountered within New Jersey’s coastal waters. According to the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program, there are no sightings currently documented within New Jersey waters for this species

MORE INFO
conservewildlifenj.org
njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/whales.pdf

George Washington Drank Here

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000

There are certainly many places in New Jersey where General George Washington stayed during his military campaigns. He certainly ate and drank in those places, too.

Washington was not a heavy drinker of alcoholic beverages, but he did drink regularly. Madeira wine was his favorite, but he also drank rum punch, hard cider, and occasionally beer or porter. He even ran one of the largest distilleries in America after the war in Virginia.

Washington, with a tavern madeira

Where did he do some of this drinking?

The Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield (Camden County) is probably his most famous drinking connection. Washington visited while traveling through the state. Taverns like this served Madeira, rum punch, hard cider, and ale. The building later hosted the New Jersey legislature. It has been a strong tradition that Washington drank here. It is still standing and preserved as a historic site.

The Nassau Inn's original tavern in Princeton was a drinking spot where Washington as he stayed in town multiple times. Located near the Battle of Princeton, this and other taverns were meeting places for officers. He probably drank his favorite Madeira or punch during stays. Tavern culture was integral to military life.

Wallace House / Old Dutch Parsonage in Somerville (Somerset County) was Washington’s winter headquarters (1778–1779). He hosted dinners with his officers and staff, and wine and spirits were part of officer hospitality. Records show regular alcohol consumption by staff.

Ford Mansion in Morristown was Washington’s headquarters during the harsh winters of 1777 and 1779–1780. Washington was known to prefer Madeira over harder spirits and there were social evenings including drinks despite shortages. (Within the Morristown National Historical Park)

The Old Barracks, located in Trenton, was where Washington stayed before and after the Crossing of the Delaware. Soldiers were issued rum rations, but officers drank separately, and typically had wine or punch.

Rockingham House in Kingston (near Princeton) was where Washington stayed after the British evacuation of NYC. Celebratory gatherings with wine and toasts were customary

You can't stop by most of these places for a drink today, but you can drink in some history at all of them. Only the Nassau Inn Tap Room still operates as a drinking establishment with direct historical continuity. But if you want to go non-alcoholic, I have another suggestion.

Along the Aqueduct Trail in the Jockey Hollow unit of Morristown National Historical Park, there is a historically significant natural spring that provided water to people long before modern pipes existed. This natural spring is perhaps the most historically documented one in New Jersey. It’s the source of Primrose Brook, one of the cleanest-rated waterways in New Jersey, and is marked by a rudimentary stone wall piled around it and a slate slab canopy.

The Lenni Lenape used it as a water source hundreds of years ago, as can be ascertained by the many artifacts found in the immediate area, showing there was a settlement around it.

While the late-1800s aqueduct system itself wasn’t around in Washington’s time, the spring that feeds Primrose Brook was a key fresh water source that helped make the Morristown/Jockey Hollow area viable for troops during the Revolutionary War. Washington led his Continental Army to winter encampment in Morristown during the Revolutionary War for a second time in 1779-80, and the spring was documented as being a water source for the patriot soldiers, particularly the Maryland and Pennsylvania brigades. One story tells of Washington visiting the spring after inspecting nearby drills and drinking directly from it with his cupped hands.

In 1890, an aqueduct system was developed by the Morris Aqueduct Company, New Jersey’s first water company, founded in 1799, and the spring was put into use, bringing drinking water to the growing town. Today, the spring, with crystal-clear groundwater still flowing from it through cracks in the Precambrian bedrock, can be found along the Aqueduct Trail in the park.

A NOTE ON MADEIRA
Madeira wine is a fortified (grape brandy is added) wine originally coming from the Portuguese island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean, and it was one of the most popular wines in colonial America. Madeira is deliberately heated and oxidized during production. This gives it remarkable stability and the ability to survive long sea voyages. Its flavors don’t spoil once opened, and so it became the preferred wine of the American colonies. Today, it is referred to as a dessert wine.

I bought a bottle recently that I'm saving for George's birthday on February 22nd.

In the meantime, during this winter, I will have some "Newark cider" like the hard cider George thought was the best. Made from a blend of four elite New Jersey apple varieties. The blend was dominated by the Harrison apple and“lauded by George Washington.” Modern NJ cider makers restoring the tradition say that Ironbound’s Newark Cider is “literally the cider that George Washington drank.”

Where Do New Jersey Moths Go in the Winter?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

We have all heard stories about the incredible migrations of monarch butterflies every year. But where do moths go in winter?

In New Jersey winters, most moths don’t migrate far away like monarch butterflies do. They survive the cold in various dormant stages right where they live. This process is called overwintering.

Many overwinter as caterpillars. Some species spend the winter as larvae — often tucked in leaf litter, soil, or under bark where they pupate (form cocoons) and stay protected until spring.

For example, the Polyphemus moth caterpillars burrow into the ground to overwinter as pupae. Some giant silk moths also pupate in soil or leaf litter in fall and remain dormant through the winter.

Overwintering as pupae is one of the most common ways moths survive cold weather. The caterpillar forms a cocoon in fall and stays in that state underground, under leaves, or attached to plants until temperatures rise in spring.

Luna Moth (Actias luna)
American moon moth
via Wikipedia

Overwinters as a Pupa in a cocoon under fallen leaves on the forest floor

They might also overwinter as eggs. Certain species lay eggs in the fall that remain dormant through winter and hatch in spring. For example, the invasive spongy (gypsy) moth overwinters as egg masses attached to tree trunks, fences, rocks, or other surfaces until spring.

A few overwinter as adults. Though most adult moths die when winter arrives, a few hardy species can be seen on warm winter days. For instance, the winter moth (a non-native species) can emerge from the ground on mild nights to mate, and mourning cloak butterflies (a relative, not exactly a moth) may occasionally bask in the sun in winter.

Moths and their immature stages seek refuge in places that protect them from freezing temperatures. Leaf litter and soil offer insulation and moisture buffering. Under tree bark or logs is also a protected microhabitat against wind and cold.

Cocoons are generally in hidden spots, and pupae may be camouflaged in dry leaves or hooked to twigs.

Of course, the moths that give the species a bad name may be overwintering in man-made structures. For pest species, clothes moths and pantry moths can stay active inside homes if warm conditions allow it.

But for the good pollinating species outdoors, it helps to leave some natural debris. If you rake up all leaves and stems in your yard in fall, you remove many of the places where moths and other beneficial insects overwinter. Leaving leaf litter and plant stems undisturbed helps native species survive winter better.

Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella)
Photo: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0

Overwinters as: Caterpillar Leaf litter, under logs, stones. This is the classic fuzzy “woolly bear” caterpillar

woolly bear caterpillar
Photo: Micha L. Rieser

Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) Overwinters as: Pupa in leaf litter or shallow soil and is one of NJ’s largest moths.

polyphemus

More information at New Jersey Butterfly Club - North American Butterfly Association

Crossroads of the Revolution and America's 250th

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:38:00 +0000

I have written about New Jersey's role in the Revolutionary War (see posts) and a recent Ken Burns documentary series on PBS and there is lots of news about celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

New Jersey played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, serving as a key battleground for many important conflicts.

A 1976 Crossroads of the Revolution license plate was issued, celebrating the bicentennial 200th anniversary of America’s founding and the state's significant role in the American Revolution.

As America begins planning celebrations to mark its 250th birthday in 2026, a proposal has been made to create a “Semiquincentennial” license plate. A bill was introduced to create a commemorative license plate for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Proceeds from the new license plate will support the preservation of New Jersey's Revolutionary War sites. No design has been approvedas of this writing.

POSTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT (some posts appear undr multiple labels)

NJ History

Historical Preservation

Historic Sites

Winter in Morristown with General Washington

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Following the Continental Army's victory at Princeton, General Washington knew his army was exhausted and vulnerable if General Cornwallis, who was now rushing up from Trenton, caught them.

Washington broke off the pursuit and marched his army north to Morristown, New Jersey.

Beginning around January 6, 1777, the Continental Army set up its winter quarters in Morristown. This strategic location in the New Jersey Highlands allowed Washington to protect his army while constantly threatening the British supply lines that stretched between New York and their garrisons in New Jersey.

The site chosen in Morristown was where the hills surrounding the camp offered a good vantage point to observe the British army, which was headquartered across the Hudson River in New York City.

Morristown’s position allowed Washington to protect the roads leading from the British strongholds in New Jersey to New England and the roads leading to Philadelphia, where the leaders of the American Revolution were headquartered.

Morristown was actually the location of two winter encampments during the Revolutionary War. Washington had first visited Morristown in 1773 with his stepson, John Parke Custis. He had been passing through the town en route to nearby Basking Ridge to visit William Alexander, Lord Stirling, who would later become a major-general in the Continental Army.

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment, where they survived through what would be the coldest winter on record. The park also maintains a museum & library collection related to the encampments & George Washington, as well as items relating to pre- and post-Revolutionary America.

Reproductions of soldier cabins

Washington used some of the winter trying to reorganize and build up the Continental Army. Despite the Trenton and Princeton victories, some soldiers chose desertion over another cold winter without adequate supplies. Reenlistments were down, and soldiers were returning home when their enlistments expired.

For five months, Washington maintained headquarters at Arnold's Tavern on the Green, which was - and still is - the central hub of Morristown society.

Washington ordered inoculations for his militiamen during a smallpox outbreak in February 1777 and he was very concerned with personal and public cleanliness. Nevertheless, his troops were so distressed by the disease and poor conditions of the camp that by spring 1777, many men attempted to leave and were charged with desertion.

Ford Mansion (Photo: Rob Shenk on Flickr)

Washington returned with his troops between December 1779 and June 1780 at a second encampment in a section of forest known as Jockey Hollow. The winter was again bitter. He was accompanied by his wife, Martha, and they were given shelter in the Ford Mansion owned by Colonel Jacob Ford, Jr. and his wife, Theodosia.

The Georgian-style mansion built in 1774, which was Washington's headquarters, is now part of the Morristown National Historical Park.

Some Sources

Eagle Nesting Season Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Bald eagles throughout New Jersey are preparing for the 2026 nesting season. In NJ, eagle pairs lay eggs anywhere from January through March, with the bulk of incubation starting in February.

The Duke Farms eagle pair is spending a lot of time at that nest, rearranging sticks. conservewildlifenj.org , in collaboration with Duke Farms, features an Eagle Cam to raise awareness about nesting bald eagles in New Jersey. (also check out their osprey and falcon webcams)

Bald Eagles are extremely sensitive to human disturbance. At no time should anyone approach nesting eagles. People who want to observe or photograph eagles and who come too close may actually cause the birds to abandon a nest.

Located on Duke Farms in central New Jersey, the Eagle Cam allows viewers an up-close and personal view into the lives of a pair of bald eagles as they breed, incubate, and raise young.

During last year's nesting season, incubation was confirmed on January 18 with three eggs. 1st egg hatched: February 25th, 6:32am: banded H58, Female; fledged 5/17/25. 2nd egg hatched: February 27th, 12:41 am: banded H59 Female; fledged 5/26/25. 3rd egg hatched: February 28th, 3:53 pm: banded H57 Male; fledged 5/23/25

WATCH THE EAGLE CAM LIVE via YOUTUBE