Beavers at the Refuge, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Moss on Boundary Trail, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Moonlit main pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Elegant spreadwing damselfly, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Racoon on trail camera near Wild Goose Blind, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Northern water snake in main pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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House wren near Headquarters, photo by Leor Veleanu
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Luna moth male on porch at Headquarters, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Bleeding heart flowering near Headquarters, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Northern cricket frog in Miller Pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
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Fungi on fallen tree on Boundary Trail, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo

Unexpected Wildlife Refuge is a protected natural habitat comprising 767 acres of pristine pine lands, forest, fields, bogs, streams and lakes. It provides a refuge to animals and plants indigenous to southern New Jersey; a place where wildlife can live freely and naturally without fear of being harmed at the hands of human beings. We began as the home of Hope Sawyer Buyukmihci and Cavit Buyukmihci, who dedicated their land to habitat preservation so that native wildlife and habitat could thrive. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity, federal ID 23-7025010.
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Video and Audio Recordings of the Refuge

Below are links to videos (some only containing audio) taken at the Refuge. The recordings are arranged chronologically, with the most current ones first.


Beaver in Miller Pond spillway
Beaver in Miller Pond spillway

This beaver kept emerging from the stream coming off the Refuge's Miller Pond, only to jump back in the water, probably because he saw our manager and deemed the situation 'not quite right' (8 Jun 2020).


Parent and child beavers in Miller Pond spillway
Parent and child beaver in Miller Pond spillway

This beaver parent and child were exploring the stream that continues from the Refuge's Miller Pond (8 Jun 2020).


Common snapping turtle looking for nest site
Common snapping turtle looking for nest site

This female common snapping turtle temporarily 'stopped traffic' on the Refuge lane when she slowly crossed over looking for a site to lay her eggs (5 Jun 2020).


Eastern painted turtle on log in main pond
Eastern painted turtle on log in main pond, 4 Jun 2019

After being recorded for a short while on a log in the main pond, this eastern painted turtle 'had enough' and slid off to hide in the water. She surfaced a few seconds later some distance away (4 Jun 2019).


Black vulture in tree near cabin
Black vulture in tree near cabin, 4 Jun 2019

This black vulture was resting and grooming himself in one of the tall trees surrounding the Refuge cabin (4 Jun 2019).


Beaver eating lilies in main pond
Beaver eating yellow water lilies, 17 May 2019

This beaver was eating yellow water lilies in our main pond one afternoon (17 May 2019).


Wild turkey hen
Wild turkey hen, 16 May 2019

A lone wild turkey hen in a section of woods (16 May 2019).


Beaver family swimming in main pond
Beaver family swimming in main pond, 15 May 2019

This family of at least six beavers was swimming together in the main pond late in the afternoon (15 May 2019).


Beavers and Canada geese in main pond
Beavers and Canada geese in main pond, 22 Feb 2019

Two beavers swimming past flock of Canada geese in our main pond (22 Feb 2019).


River otter in main pond
River otter in frozen main pond, 9 Dec 2018

This river otter at Unexpected Wildlife Refuge broke through the ice on the main pond to have a look around (9 Dec 2018). We were not expecting this and only had a mobile phone to record her.


Frogs in main pond (audio)
Frogs singing in main pond

Listen to the voices of various species of frogs who live in the main pond at the Refuge.


Curious opossum and trail camera
Opossum and trail camera

Raccoons are not the only curious ones in the woods. This small opossum finds what we thought was a well-concealed trail camera on a tree at the Refuge and takes a picture of herself.


Family of beavers swimming
Beaver family swimming in main pond in evening

Members of one of the beaver families at the Refuge were seen swimming together in the main pond one evening. If you look closely, you can see two adults and a youngster. A Canada goose can be heard in the background.


Beaver swimming at sunset
Beaver swimming in main pond at sunset

This beaver was swimming in the main pond at the Refuge one evening. Although these animals are most active between sunset and dawn, we sometimes see them checking their dams throughout the day.


Chorus and wood frogs (audio)
Chorus and wood frogs in main pond

Listen to chorus and wood frogs singing in the Refuge's main pond.


Raccoon 'caught' by trail camera
Raccoon by trail camera

This curious raccoon happened upon one of our trail cameras and had his picture taken.


Beavers at Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, 25 June 1994
Beavers in Bickford video, 25 Jun 1994

This is footage extracted from a video (full version linked below) generously provided by Mickey and Peter Bickford who are long time supporters of Unexpected Wildlife Refuge. The video was taken on 25 June 1994. The beavers were part of a resident family, shown in one of the many ponds seen throughout the Refuge.


Video of Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, 25 June 1994
Hope Sawyer Buyukmihci in Bickford video, 1994

This is video footage generously provided by Mickey and Peter Bickford who are long time supporters of Unexpected Wildlife Refuge. The video was taken on 25 June 1994. The people in the video are Hope Sawyer Buyukmihci (Refuge co-founder), Mickey and friends Bill and Terry.

An extract of the beavers eating is shown above.