Eastern Tiger Salamander 11/22/25 photo by Tony Klock
This time of year most wildlife is hunkering down for the winter either in New Jersey or migrating to southern destinations until the next breeding season. One New Jersey salamander is just getting started, The Eastern Tiger Salamander(ETS) is the largest salamander species found in New Jersey and a state Endangered species. ETS are found in only a few locations in southern NJ. Conserve Wildlife Foundation works with the NJ Endangered and Nongame Species program to monitor ETS breeding pools and populations. ETS spend most of their adult lives in underground borrows they will emerge to breed on warm wet nights beginning in December through February. The females lay egg masses in vernal pools and then return to their burrows. CWF’s website has detailed information on the ETS lifecycle
ENSP Senior Zoologist Bill Pitts and Darby Brant install a water gauge at a ETS breeding pool.
Off road vehicle disturbance to a ETS breeding pool.
These vernal breeding pools are a necessity for the ETS population to survive in New Jersey. In 2025 due to low water levels from a drought, only a few of the deeper breeding pools had enough water for ETS breeding activity. These breeding pools not only face threats from climate change but also from pollution, habitat loss and disturbance from off road vehicles.
It’s important to identify new ETS breeding pools so that they can be monitored and protected. Some exciting new projects are in the future for the ETS project including collecting habitat and water quality data, eDNA study and a VIE (visible implant elastomer) study.
You can help by reporting any Eastern Tiger Salamander Sighting to the NJ Wildlife Tracker
This October, CWF biologists began work on an exciting new pilot project led by The Wetlands Institute to help fill knowledge gaps in the breeding productivity and habitat use of American oystercatchers across New Jersey.
While a significant portion of New Jersey’s oystercatchers nest in marsh habitats, intensive monitoring has historically focused on beach-nesting pairs along the Atlantic Coast due to logistical and resource constraints. In recent years, CWF has played a leading role to gradually expand monitoring to include previously unmonitored sites along the Delaware and Raritan Bays. Now, through this new collaboration with The Wetlands Institute, we are extending our efforts to the estuarine islands and marshes within the Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area.
Over the next year, CWF biologists will work closely with The Wetlands Institute to survey, monitor, and band oystercatchers in these marsh systems to better understand their breeding productivity, habitat needs, and the conservation challenges they face. As sea-level rise, flooding, and erosion threaten the health and resilience of our state’s marsh ecosystems, understanding the needs of marsh-dependent species like oystercatchers is becoming increasingly important. The findings of this pilot effort will help refine monitoring strategies for marsh habitats and guide future management decisions, ultimately contributing to more comprehensive management of New Jersey’s oystercatcher population.
On September 28th a bald eagle with a green band was reported in the Princeton area and again on October 5th, by Susan VanderKam. The code on the band was D99 an eagle who fledged from the 2014 Duke Farms nest. In 2014 the Duke Farms pair raised and fledged three eaglets while being viewed by thousands of people on the eagle cam. The eaglets were banded by state biologists at six weeks of age. D99 a male and the youngest, D98 a male and the second youngest and a female, EOO who was the oldest eaglet. They all fledged in June, 2014.
April 2nd, 2024
After banding May 14th, 2014
On August 25th, 2014, D98 was found dead in Little Sebago, Maine. For more details on what occurred prior to his death see the blog post. E00 the only female has been resighted once and that was on the Duke Farm eagle cam. On February 20th, 2018 as a four year old eagle she returned to her natal nest, while the Duke Farms pair was incubating. The female eventually chased her away.
D99 has been resighted several times since fledging. He was seen in January 2019 at Mercer Lakes
D99 Mercer County Park, January 13, 2019, Bob Cook
In January 2021 he was seen feeding on a deer carcass in Monmouth County.
D99, January 18, 2021, Kristen Branchizio
D99 is now 11 years old and is most likely in a breeding pair and nesting. On September 28th he was perched in a tree with another eagle. Perhaps this is his mate? It would be very exciting to know that he is nesting and we’ll keep you updated.
D99 perched with second eagle. September 28,2025 photo by Susan VanderKam
The New Jersey Endangered Species List just got expanded, which leaves more data to be submitted to the New Jersey Wildlife Tracker! The NJ Wildlife Tracker is our go-to place for submitting: 1) rare wildlife species sightings as well as 2) observations of wildlife (of any kind) on roadways.
Our biggest submissions of commonly known species are bobcats, box turtles, and Bald Eagles! Bobcats are found in over half of New Jersey counties and are native wild cats historically found throughout New Jersey.
We also have a significant number of commonly known species that were added to the Endangered Species List that you might be surprised to see listed there. A few of these that you might be familiar with include: Green Heron, Purple Martin, Northern Diamond-backed Terrapins, Bottlenose Dolphins, and the Monarch Butterfly.
Monarch Photo submitted by Janet Hammond through the NJ Wildlife Tracker.
A fact that is even more surprising than this precious butterfly being listed as Special Concern is that ALL bat species in New Jersey are now on the list, Yikes! If you happen to encounter on any of these precious bat species injured, please contact a NJ Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator who treats bats. If you would like to learn more about how New Jersey Fish and Wildlife are combatting this, you can read all about it on their website NJDEP| Fish & Wildlife | Bat Conservation.
Osprey carrying a large adult menhaden. Long Beach Island. August 14, 2016. Photo by Jim Verhagen.
Over the past twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of watching New Jersey’s osprey population more than double—from roughly 400 nesting pairs to over 800. While our work to protect and expand nesting habitat has played a role in their comeback, the true foundation of their recovery has been a healthy marine ecosystem and an abundance of prey.
The New Jersey Bald Eagle nesting season is finished for the year, so both the eagles and volunteer nest monitors now get a few months rest. Conserve Wildlife Foundation and the NJ ENSP hosted the annual eagle volunteer get-together at the Assunpink WMA this past Saturday. Forty-five volunteers attended and enjoyed discussing the season with fellow nest monitors and NJ eagle project staff.
On behalf of the NJ Eagle Project we thank all the 160 nest monitors who are dedicated to monitoring and protecting the NJ bald eagle population.
Thank you to Barb & Rick McKee for providing sandwiches and everyone who generously brought delicious side dishes and desserts to share.
Since 2006, the Women & Wildlife Awards have honored powerful voices in conservation—from scientists and educators to policy advocates—who have helped restore bald eagles, brook trout, golden-winged warblers, and more across New Jersey. These leaders have preserved thousands of acres, launched statewide education initiatives, and inspired countless others to act.
A six week old osprey nestling, emaciated with no adults present, stands next to its dead sibling (two fish left at nest during nest check). July 25.
Since my last post on June 25, where I said this year was shaping up to be a “terrible one” for ospreys in New Jersey has held true. Since then I’ve watched as nestlings are abandoned and left to starve by their parents and die from starvation via live streaming cameras. It is heartbreaking. We’re seeing nest failure rates higher than they have ever been in most coastal colonies. Even worse, many others monitoring ospreys in surrounding states are reporting similar outcomes. Atlantic menhaden—typically a staple in the osprey’s diet—are far less abundant this season.
2025 Great Bay Terrapin Project Volunteer Student Intern Maxwell Ferrelli carefully measures an adult female terrapin.
Northern diamondback terrapin nesting season may be coming to end, but Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s Great Bay Terrapin Project volunteers are still hard at work. During the peak of their nesting season, in June and July, they drive up and down Great Bay Boulevard in Little Egg Harbor Township in search of terrapins crossing the road.
Summertime is peak terrapin crossing season, with females coming to shore to lay their eggs in early to mid-summer and hatchlings finding their way back home in August. The problem is, they often end up on the road, where they run the risk of being crushed by passing vehicles. On Great Bay Boulevard, a coastal road with few speed limit signs and a great number of terrapins, this is especially troublesome.
