Endangered New Jersey

Essential Pollinators

2026-04-20T09:08:00.000-04:00

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

2026-04-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

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

2026-04-13T10:16:00.000-04:00

Brown Trout Stocking Information

2026-03-25T16:01:00.004-04:00

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

2026-03-16T11:00:00.005-04:00

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

2026-03-12T18:00:00.001-04:00

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

2026-03-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

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

2026-03-06T17:34:00.012-05:00

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

2026-02-27T17:12:00.006-05:00

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

2026-02-16T09:32:00.001-05:00

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

2026-02-10T15:05:00.005-05:00

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

2026-01-31T12:00:00.001-05:00

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

2026-01-29T12:40:00.004-05:00

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

2026-01-22T18:00:00.039-05:00

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?

2026-01-15T09:00:00.018-05:00

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

2026-01-12T19:38:00.070-05:00

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.

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Winter in Morristown with General Washington

2026-01-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

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

2026-01-01T12:00:00.004-05:00

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

New Jersey Boaters’ Input Requested on Whale Awareness and Safety

2025-12-29T18:12:00.001-05:00

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife is assisting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division to improve agency communications with marine boaters about the presence of whales in coastal waters.

To guide this effort, we are sharing a survey they have developed to learn more about the communication preferences of NJ boaters. Your response will help us streamline communications, increasing safety for boaters and whales, while respecting your needs as a boater.

The survey will take about 10 minutes. Your participation is voluntary, and you can exit the survey at any time. Your response is anonymous. Survey data will be used for agency outreach initiatives, including boater safety and marine mammal programs.

Washington Crossing State Park

2025-12-26T09:00:00.002-05:00

Annual reenactment of Washington's Crossing

Washington Crossing State Park is the site of General George Washington’s historic 1776 Christmas night crossing of the icy Delaware River.

For almost ten hours, boats and ferries moved continuously back and forth carrying men, horses, and cannon to the Jersey side. By midnight, a strong storm had developed, hurling sleet, hail, and snow at the army. Landing at Johnson’s Ferry, the Continental Army still faced an arduous nine-mile march to Trenton as the storm continued with a vengeance. 

Reaching Trenton in the early morning of December 26th, the American Army surrounded, defeated, and captured over 900 Hessian mercenaries and secured a morale-boosting victory of immeasurable proportions.

An impressive collection of over 500 authentic Revolutionary War artifacts, on loan from The Swan Historical Foundation, Inc., is housed in the exhibit galleries of the Visitor Center Museum. This collection serves to remind visitors of the perilous struggles that men and women endured during this era.

The Johnson Ferry House is a circa-1740, gambrel-roof farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River was built by Garret Johnson on his 490-acre tract. James Slack operated the ferry service in 1776. In addition to using the ferry service, General Washington and other officers probably used the house at the time of the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware. The keeping room, parlor, pantry, and bed chambers are furnished with local period pieces and reproductions similar to the furniture used by the Johnson and Slack families from 1740 to 1780. The site also includes an 18th-century kitchen garden. Living history demonstrations are frequently held on weekends.

During the winter months, when weather conditions are favorable, cross-country skiing is permitted on the 13 miles of ungroomed trails.

The park has 13 miles of trails for hiking. Walking and jogging are very popular in the park throughout the year.

Two and a half miles of trails are available for equestrian use in the Phillips Farm day use area. The Phillips Farm parking area is designated for horse trailers. There are no horse rental facilities in the park.

Five miles of trails in the Phillips Farm day-use area are available for mountain bike use.

For snowshoeing, the park offers 13 miles of trails that can be used during the winter months. There are 13 miles of moderate trails throughout Washington Crossing State Park. These trails are not ADA-accessible.

view area map

Check the park's website for information on any closures as the ongoing Washington Crossing State Park Improvement Projects prepare for the celebration of the United States’ Semiquincentennial Anniversary, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The 250th anniversary will happen on July 4, 2026, although events marking the various historical events before and after the July, 4 1776 signing will begin as early as 2024 and continue through 2033.

A Revolutionary Christmas Week in New Jersey

2025-12-22T18:32:00.031-05:00

New Jersey is often called the "Crossroads of the American Revolution" because it saw more battles and skirmishes than any other state.

December 1776 was particularly important. It begins with a retreat. In early December, after losing New York City, General George Washington and the Continental Army retreated across New Jersey, pursued by the British. They crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania in early December, seizing all boats to prevent the British from following.

Thomas Paine's pamphlet "The American Crisis" was written while Paine was with the army in NJ and PA was published this month to boost morale. Washington ordered it read to his troops on December 23.

The 1776 Christmas-night crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington's Continental Army to attack Hessian forces in New Jersey is a very famous image and story. Washington’s army braved a winter storm to cross the ice-choked Delaware River from Pennsylvania back into New Jersey at McKonkey's Ferry (now Washington Crossing).

The Battle of Trenton via Washington Crossing Historic Park

The first Battle of Trenton was on December 26, after the Delaware crossing and a march of nine miles to Trenton. This surprise attack on the Hessian garrison (German mercenaries hired by the British) was a decisive victory, capturing nearly 900 prisoners with almost no American casualties.

However, a massive British army of about 8,000 men led by Lord Charles Cornwallis was marching south from Princeton to crush him. Washington, with his back to the Delaware River, was effectively trapped. Cornwallis, believing Washington had no boats and was trapped against the impassable Delaware River, famously told his officers they could "bag the fox in the morning." He ordered his troops to rest for the night.

Realizing his army would be destroyed in a dawn attack, Washington executed a daring deception. He ordered a small group of soldiers to keep the campfires burning bright and to make digging noises, tricking the British sentries into thinking the Americans were digging in for a fight. In total silence, the rest of the Continental Army wrapped their wagon wheels in rags to dampen the sound and marched around the British flank in the middle of the night.

By the time Cornwallis woke up the next morning to "bag the fox," the American camp was empty. Washington was already miles away, about to launch a surprise attack on the British rearguard at the Battle of Princeton, which was another victory.

The "Second Crossing" (December 29–30) came because Washington took a huge risk and crossed back into New Jersey to solidify his gains and encourage the militia to rise up.

The Continental Army skirmishes with British and Hessian troops in Princeton on New Year’s Day. The Second Battle of Trenton, also known as the Battle of the Assunpink Creek, was a pivotal defensive stand by the Continental Army on January 2, 1777. While often overshadowed by the surprise attack on the Hessians a week earlier, this battle was arguably the moment the American Revolution came closest to total collapse.

If Washington had lost at Assunpink Creek, the Continental Army would likely have been captured or destroyed, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. Instead, the successful defense and subsequent escape allowed Washington to drive the British out of most of New Jersey and boosted public support for the Revolution.

After marching approximately 12 miles through a cold night, Washington’s army arrived at Princeton at dawn on January 3, 1777. They encountered a British brigade, led by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood, that was marching out of Princeton to join Cornwallis in Trenton. A sharp, fierce engagement broke out on the fields south of the town.

At a crucial moment, when the lead American units were wavering and being overrun by a British bayonet charge, Washington personally rode to the front of the lines. He rallied the troops and led the counterattack, resulting in a decisive American victory. The remaining British troops were surrounded and forced to surrender inside Nassau Hall (the main building of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University).

Washington at the Battle of Princeton

Following the victory at Princeton, Washington knew his army was exhausted and vulnerable if Cornwallis—who was now rushing up from Trenton—caught them. Washington broke off the pursuit, leaving New Jersey's central corridor, and marched his army north to Morristown, New Jersey.

In this film, the "Ten Crucial Days" refers to the short, decisive period from December 25, 1776, through January 3, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War that was a critical turning point where General George Washington and the beleaguered Continental Army launched a series of daring, successful military operations in New Jersey that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and renewed the Patriot cause.

The Line That Divided New Jersey

2025-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Seal of the Province of Western New Jersey

Once upon a time, New Jersey was the Province of New Jersey. In 1686, a man took a long walk through the Province and did the first survey in order to mark the border dividing it into West Jersey and East Jersey.

We may not agree on where North and South Jersey begin and end, and whether or not there is a Central Jersey, but there is also this East/West dividing line that exists, at least in our history.

That 1686 walker was Surveyor-General George Keith. The line that he drew on the map was a very straight one. The purpose of the survey was to clarify disputes resulting from the earlier 1676 Quintipartite Deed, which created the two territories. On July 1, 1676, William Penn, Gawen Lawrie (who served from 1683 to 1686 as Deputy to Governor Robert Barclay), Nicholas Lucas and Edward Byllinge executed a deed with Sir George Carteret known as the “Quintipartite Deed,” in which the territory was divided into two parts. East Jersey was taken by Carteret, and West Jersey by Byllinge and his trustees.

The newer "Keith Line" runs North-Northwest from the southern part of Little Egg Harbor Township, passing just north of Tuckerton. The line was to continue upward to a point on the Delaware River, which is just north of the Delaware Water Gap, but Keith was stopped in his survey. He was stopped by the Governor of West Jersey, Daniel Coxe, when he had reached the South Branch of the Raritan River (now Three Bridges in Readington Township).

More accurate surveys and maps needed to be made to resolve property disputes. But my own interest in the Keith Line is more cultural. These days, some people use this line as a way to mark the boundary between things like the "spheres of influence" for New York City sports teams and Philadelphia sports teams, such as the New York Giants (who play all their home games in New Jersey!) and the Philadelphia Eagles.

I like that when George took his 70-mile walk, he defined some of New Jersey's history, and that history still exists in some ways today. Remember, these disputed boundaries were between two British provinces, and this was happening about a century before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The original provinces of West and East New Jersey are shown
in yellow and green respectively. The Keith Line is shown in red,
and the Coxe and Barclay line is shown in orange

George was the Surveyor General of East Jersey. He walked north from Little Egg Harbor but when he was stopped at the Raritan River (in today's Warren County) there were some who claimed he was already way off-course.

But the boundary was not surveyed again for another 60 years. According to Robert Barnett's website WestJersey.org. There are at least 5 boundary lines - 2 before and 2 after Mr. Keith's.

The ruler-straight Keith Line is still a marker for municipal and county boundaries from Southern Ocean and Burlington counties up to Warren.

A good part of Barnett's interest in all this is because of the two quite different and distinct populations that settled in the two provinces. West Jersey was primarily populated by Quakers (see William Penn), and the East Jersey Province was primarily made up of Calvinists or Reformed Christians.

Religion isn't the distinction between those two areas of the state today, but differences remain. One example of the historic distinction can be seen in cemeteries east and west. Some of the western Quaker burial grounds are simple and uniform, while the oldest northeastern ones will have ornate monuments.

Other distinctions are much broader (and more questionable) generalizations, such as West Jersey being more "blue-collar" and more likely to have a simpler Quaker-ish pace as compared to East Jersey being wealthier and faster-paced. Of course, there is some real evidence if you look at things like Census data on taxes, income and home values, which are all significantly higher in the East.

Despite being close to Philadelphia, the west has about a third of the population living in more rural or suburban communities.

As other writers have noted, there is a pretty distinct line dividing the fans of the Phillies vs. the Mets or Yankees, Eagles vs. Jets or Giants. In language, there are some food regionalisms like hoagie vs. sub sandwiches, water ice vs. Italian ice, and pork roll vs. Taylor Ham. All topics for barroom arguments in NJ.

And we haven't even gotten into where South Jersey begins, or the Lenape or Lenni-Lenape (later European-renamed Delaware Indians) who occupied these areas long before the Europeans arrived.

This article first appeared on Weekends in Paradelle

Connecting Habitats

2025-12-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife staff inspect a newly completed road-crossing project
for turtles and other small animals in central NJ. Photo by MacKenzie Hall, NJFW

It is challenging for wildlife to traverse roadways and other development in our densely populated and developed state. Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) is a project of New Jersey Fish & Wildlife that aims to make our landscape and roadways friendlier for terrestrial wildlife by guiding land protection, habitat restoration, and roadway projects that reduce animal-vehicle collisions.

Whether they’re small like a salamander or big and wide-roaming like a bear, animals need to be able to move through the landscape to find food, shelter, mates, and other resources. Without that ability to move, healthy populations simply will not persist over the long term.

More information about the CHANJ project at CHANJ.nj.gov

Bobcat using an underpass below a highway. Photo by Melissa McCutcheon

Is Lucy the Margate Elephant Endangered?

2025-12-08T12:00:00.001-05:00

Margate, New Jersey’s most iconic resident, is definitely Lucy the Elephant. But Lucy is facing an uncertain future after landing on an unusual endangered species list.

Courtesy of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President Donald Trump earlier this year and led at that time by Elon Musk, DOGE has aggressively slashed federal spending, eliminating agencies, jobs, and grants across the country. One of the casualties is a $500,000 federal grant intended for Lucy’s much-needed restoration and fire-safety upgrades.

Lucy the Elephant in Margate, NJ, is a six-story, elephant-shaped building constructed in 1882 as a real estate attraction. Today, she is the oldest surviving roadside tourist attraction in America. In 1976, Lucy was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark, joining icons like the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore.

Built in 1882 by Philadelphia entrepreneur James V. Lafferty, Lucy was originally called the Elephant Bazaar. Lafferty patented the idea of animal-shaped buildings, hoping to lure buyers to South Atlantic City (now Margate).

Standing 65 feet tall and weighing about 90 tons, Lucy was modeled after Jumbo, the famous Barnum & Bailey elephant. Construction required nearly one million pieces of wood, 200 kegs of nails, 4 tons of bolts, and 12,000 square feet of tin.

Early visitors were escorted to Lucy’s howdah observation deck to view land parcels for sale. In 1887, she was sold to Anton Gertzen of Philadelphia, whose family owned her until 1970. Anton’s daughter-in-law, Sophia Gertzen, gave Lucy her name in 1902.

Over the decades, Lucy served as a restaurant, tavern, summer residence, and even a business office. By the mid-20th century, Lucy fell into disrepair, battered by the coastal environment. In 1969, she faced demolition when developers bought the land. The Save Lucy Committee, formed in 1970, raised funds to move her a few blocks away and restore her. Lucy reopened to the public in 1974 after extensive restoration.

The latest restoration plans include interior repairs and installation of a modern fire suppression system. $300,000 in state funds had been secured, and Lucy's caretakers were relying on federal support to complete the project.

With that funding gone, a grassroots fundraising campaign is now underway to fill the \$500,000 gap. Though Margate boasts many wealthy summer residents and a median home price in the seven figures, the campaign has yet to generate the widespread support needed to secure Lucy’s future.

Critics argue that preserving an aging elephant-shaped landmark may not be the best use of taxpayer dollars. Supporters, however, see Lucy as a symbol of local heritage and worry that federal efficiency has come at the cost of cultural preservation.

About Lucy - Lucy The Elephant

Save Lucy Committee

Lucy is at 9200 Atlantic Ave Margate City, New Jersey

LUCY IN THE MOVIES

In 1972, Lucy appeared in the movie The King of Marvin Gardens, starring Jack Nicholson and Bruce Dern. In 1980, Lucy can be briefly seen in the opening credits of Louis Malle's Oscar-nominated film, Atlantic City, starring Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon.

In 1983, Lucy is shown on a postcard with a picture in the opening credits of the film National Lampoon's Vacation. In 2015, Lucy was featured in the opening credits of another film Vacation, similar to the original 1983 film, National Lampoon's Vacation, even though these films do not take place in NJ. That is also true for the ice cream shop with a living area above shaped like Lucy that appears in the 1991 Disney film The Rocketeer, although the film takes place in Southern California.

Even further from NJ is The Jardin, the Paris Elephant, a real-life large elephant structure inspired by “Elephantine Colossus” (a larger version of Lucy, built by Lafferty in 1885 on Coney Island), which is featured as the location of the boudoir of Nicole Kidman's character in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge.

Leaving Your Leaves Is a Good Thing for Your Garden and the Planet

2025-12-01T08:30:00.001-05:00

People in my suburban neighborhood are still raking leaves to the curb, and the leaf blowers are still working hard, but maybe there shouldn't be a fall clean-up frenzy.

Many of us have been brought up to believe that a tidy, sterile lawn is the sign of a "good gardener." That bare look is ecologically disastrous.

Walk through a forest now, and the floor is covered in a rich tapestry of leaves. That’s what nature intends.

Leaving the leaves is a matter of life or death for beneficial bugs. Dozens of species that pollinate our crops, eat pests, and power the entire food web survive the winter by hunkering down in the leaf litter. We're talking about native bees, butterflies, moths, and more, who shelter there as adults, eggs, larvae, or cozy cocoons.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm about a global "insect apocalypse," and by tossing those leaves, we’re essentially trashing their winter homes and their only shot at surviving until spring.

Your birdfeeder is nice if you keep it stocked, but birds evolved to forage on native seed heads all winter long, so leaving them standing through winter is one of the easiest ways to support bird populations.

Raking and blowing is mostly about aesthetics. The lawn covered with leaves might not be the look you want and thick layers of leaves can turn a lawn patchy, but removing leaves from the lawn and then entirely from your whole landscape might not be necessary. I was even taught to be careful removing the leaf litter too ealy in late winter or early spring because the life beneath wasn't ready to handle the temperature fluctuations.

Putting leaves into my garden beds has become my habit. They become free, nutrient-rich mulch that suppresses weeds and feeds your soil. I do use a mulching mower to shred them into small pieces. And a lot of it goes into my compost, where they will decompose into beautiful leaf mold—one of the best, richest soil amendments on the planet.

Don't pile leaves or mulch right up against the base of tree trunks because tree roots need to breathe.