Midwesterners' Guide -- Critters of New Jersey

Critters of New Jersey

New Jersey is home to all manner of creatures, in addition to lots of people. I've seen hawks, deer, raccoons, opossums -- even a groundhog or two. (I caught one helping himself to my neighbors' salad bar ... uh, flower bed ... early one morning, and we just looked at each other for several seconds before he ambled off to try his luck elsewhere.) Bear sightings are regularly reported, and people occasionally report seeing rattlesnakes and copperhead snakes.

Many parts of North Jersey have been set aside as county parks or "green acres" space, and I imagine them to be little ponds of calm in the midst of a whole lot of new construction and human frenzy. The rapid suburbanization of rural areas is eating away at New Jersey's natural habitats, but animals still seem plentiful here, and local residents and government officials both seem inclined to protect wetlands and other sensitive areas. I don't believe New Jersey has anything like the general hunting seasons we have in the Midwest and West -- and special hunts designed to thin deer herds are routinely met with protest. (With Jersey's population density, I can't imagine it's safe to fire a high-powered rifle anywhere, regardless of the issues protesters raise. But whatever.) Deer wander onto highways with disheartening regularity; it's unusual to drive any distance in Jersey without seeing a deer corpse at the edge of the road. (In the Midwest, you might be tempted to take the carcass home and turn it into dinner for the next couple of months. That's probably not advisable here, though, since Lyme disease is endemic in New Jersey, and white-tailed deer are one of the hosts to the tick that carries it.)

South Jersey, Cape May County in particular, is known as a prime location for birdwatching. Millions of migrating birds stop in South Jersey and the Delaware Bay each year. The New Jersey Audubon Society website can tell you more about that than I can. Also, if you're interested in butterflies, you might be interested to know that the North American Butterfly Association is headquartered in Morristown, N.J.

Fish and shellfish also are plentiful in New Jersey, and Jerseyans jealously protect their trout streams in particular. Sadly, I can't tell you any more than that, because other people got all the fishing genes in my family. This site, however, can provide you with some information -- it's even got a fishing chat room. Check it out and tell 'em some whoppers!

back to North Jersey

Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997 Shewi.
Most recently updated: 30 June 1997.

	Critters of New Jersey
	New Jersey is home to all manner of creatures, in addition to lots of people. I've seen hawks, deer, raccoons, opossums -- even a groundhog or two. (I caught one helping himself to my neighbors' salad bar ... uh, flower bed ... early one morning, and we just looked at each other for several seconds before he ambled off to try his luck elsewhere.) Bear sightings are regularly reported, and people occasionally report seeing rattlesnakes and copperhead snakes. Many parts of North Jersey have been set aside as county parks or "green acres" space, and I imagine them to be little ponds of calm in the midst of a whole lot of new construction and human frenzy. The rapid suburbanization of rural areas is eating away at New Jersey's natural habitats, but animals still seem plentiful here, and local residents and government officials both seem inclined to protect wetlands and other sensitive areas. I don't believe New Jersey has anything like the general hunting seasons we have in the Midwest and West -- and special hunts designed to thin deer herds are routinely met with protest. (With Jersey's population density, I can't imagine it's safe to fire a high-powered rifle anywhere, regardless of the issues protesters raise. But whatever.) Deer wander onto highways with disheartening regularity; it's unusual to drive any distance in Jersey without seeing a deer corpse at the edge of the road. (In the Midwest, you might be tempted to take the carcass home and turn it into dinner for the next couple of months. That's probably not advisable here, though, since Lyme disease is endemic in New Jersey, and white-tailed deer are one of the hosts to the tick that carries it.) South Jersey, Cape May County in particular, is known as a prime location for birdwatching. Millions of migrating birds stop in South Jersey and the Delaware Bay each year. The New Jersey Audubon Society website can tell you more about that than I can. Also, if you're interested in butterflies, you might be interested to know that the North American Butterfly Association is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Fish and shellfish also are plentiful in New Jersey, and Jerseyans jealously protect their trout streams in particular. Sadly, I can't tell you any more than that, because other people got all the fishing genes in my family. This site, however, can provide you with some information -- it's even got a fishing chat room. Check it out and tell 'em some whoppers!
	back to North Jersey
	Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997 Shewi. Most recently updated: 30 June 1997.