Starbucks Employee Volunteer Cleanup Event at UWR
On Friday, April 9, Jackie Johnson and Stacey Sperbeck volunteered at UWR, helping to remove trash and debris from the roadside along Piney Hollow Road. Together with our manager, they removed about 10 large bags worth of trash and debris, along with some larger dumped items, including TVs and tires.

Unfortunately the littering and dumping of trash and other items on or near Refuge property is an ongoing issue, and we can always use your help.

If you would like to set up a volunteer event for your group or workplace (cleanups, trail maintenance, etc.), or if you would like to help out on your own, please call 856.697.3541 or email manager@unexpectedwildliferefuge.org.

Annual UWR Earth Day Cleanup April 25, 2021
Although we have one successful cleanup event under our belt this season, there is still plenty to do. On Sunday, April 25, we will be hosting our annual Earth Day Cleanup. Rain or shine, we will start at 11am on Piney Hollow Road to collect trash along the roadside.

Help us clean up our environment in general, and gather debris before it migrates into the Refuge.

Afterward, we will meet back at Miller House for a potluck vegan lunch. To keep our expenses down, we ask that each volunteer bring one or more vegan items to share with everyone. Please be aware that we do not allow any beverages in plastic bottles at the Refuge. Gloves are encouraged, masks are required, and sections will be assigned to socially distance.

Again, if you would like to help, please call 856.697.3541 or email manager@unexpectedwildliferefuge.org.

Here are some recent news media articles concerning beavers. You can see our entire list, a tribute to this wonderful keystone species, on our Beavers in the News page. If you come across a news item on beavers, please send us the link so that we can consider it for inclusion.

Beavers rescued from Scotland arrive at new home in Cornwall -- Claire Hayhurst

Two beaver sisters rescued from Scotland have reached their new home in Cornwall. The beavers were only a few months old when they were separated from their family after human intervention. No family members were found to reunite them with so they were taken into human care to ensure their survival. They were rescued by Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer before going to Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder, West Lothian, where they underwent health screenings. The beavers have now arrived at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, where they were released into a large woodland area.

Simple hand-built structures can help streams survive wildfires and drought -- Brianna Randall

Wearing waders and work gloves, three dozen employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service stood at a small creek amid the dry sagebrush of southeastern Idaho. The group was eager to learn how to repair a stream the old­-fashioned way.

Take Action to Ban Gestation and Veal Crates in NJ
The pictures are graphic and disturbing. Mother pigs are confined in small, metal cages where most are immobilized with no room to turn around. Their muscles and bones deteriorate because they cannot move or extend their limbs. Some pigs chew the metal bars out of boredom and misery. Taken from their mothers at birth or shortly after, calves are confined to a crate which prohibits most movement including turning around.

A5236/S3401 would ban cruel gestation crates and veal crates in New Jersey and allow mother pigs and baby calves enough space to turn around freely, lie down, stand, and extend their limbs.

Perpetual confinement in gestation crates is so cruel that ten U.S. states, Canada, and the European Union have outlawed this abuse. It is time for New Jersey to do the same.

If you live in New Jersey, contact your state senator and assemblymember, and request that they cosponsor bills A5236/S3401.

• Sign and share the petition: Help end the dangerous and cruel confinement of mother pigs and baby calves.
• Contact your state legislators and politely urge them to support A5236 and S3401 when they come up for a vote; if you do not know who your state legislators are or how to contact them, click here for the legislative contact Web page

Ask Governor Murphy to Sign the Trunk Fighting Bill into Law
The Trunk Fighting Bill unanimously passed the full New Jersey Assembly and Senate and is on Governor Murphy’s desk. If he signs the bill within 45 days (this spring), it will become law.

Trunk fighting involves locking dogs in the trunk of a car or van and playing loud music or provoking them in another way to get aggressive and fight while driving around until no noises are heard coming from the trunk. Dog fighting is illegal in New Jersey so placing the dogs in the trunk or rear of a vehicle and driving around is an attempt to avoid being found and prosecuted by law enforcement.

Please contact Governor Murphy and politely urge him to sign the Trunk Fighting Bill into law:

E-mail: https://nj.gov/governor/contact/
Telephone: 609.292.6000
Message through Twitter and Instagram: @GovMurphy #BanTrunkFighting

First-time photo op with northern redbelly snake
It was a first-time photo op for us when this northern redbelly snake recently crossed our path, as this secretive and small species--measuring between 8-11 inches--is not often observed. Redbelly snakes are typically found in moist habitats, including woodlands, swamp forests, open fields, and bog borders. They spend most of their life hidden under logs, rocks, brush piles, and leaves, typically staying under cover during the daylight hours, and emerging in the evening. Although these snakes are sometimes confused with the northern brown snake, northern ring-necked snake, and/or eastern worm snake, we clearly saw this individual's bright red ventral scales, characteristic of the northern redbelly snake.

A look at the mantis life cycle
Last spring, Trustee Dave Sauder photographed these mantis egg cases, which were likely deposited there during the previous fall. In the fall, female mantises produce eggs, deposited in a frothy secretion that hardens to protect the eggs from predators and winter climates. Egg cases are typically attached to twigs, leaves, and fences, and several egg cases may be laid before cold weather sets in. When warm weather returns, the mantis nymphs will hatch. They will molt about six times as they grow into mature adults, at which time they will repeat the process. By summer's end, mantises can reach several inches in length, like the individual pictured here, photographed outside of Headquarters in August.

Wheel bug nests and emerging nymphs
Twice in the same day, while out doing trail maintenance last spring, our manager observed these unique wheel bug nests with emerging nymphs. The wheel bug is a member of the family of insects known as assassin bugs--about 7,000 species of insects in the 'true bug' order. Like most members of the family, wheel bugs are predacious on other insects--caterpillars and beetles in particular. Once per year they lay anywhere from 40 up to 200 barrel-shaped eggs, which are cemented together in a mass resembling a honeycomb. The eggs hatch in May and June, and nymphs soon begin hunting for prey. They molt several times, growing in size through the season, and by late summer they are adults, ready to mate and lay eggs.

Beavers build scent mound to mark territory
Our resident beavers are active once again. After they spent the winter inside their lodges, we caught our first glimpse of them swimming in the main pond in late March. Beavers do not hibernate during winter, though they do stay in their lodge, where they have stored enough food to last until spring. For young beavers, around 2 years old, it is time to leave the family lodge and make one of their own. Beavers are exceptionally territorial, so in the spring resident beavers build scent mounds around their territory to deter new individuals from moving in. The mounds (like the one pictured here on the edge of our main pond) are built with mud, leaves, and pond debris, then scent marked with urine and castoreum, a substance that comes from their castor sacs.

Beloved underwing moth caterpillar at Miller House
This caterpillar--the larval stage of the beloved underwing moth--was photographed outside of Miller House last spring. Feeding mostly on oaks during this phase, the caterpillars have colors and patterns that allow them to blend in well with tree bark. Although commonly gray or brown, some, like this individual, are mint green, just like a lichen-covered tree trunk. About two weeks after hatching from the egg, the caterpillar will begin to pupate, metamorphosing into an adult in this final stage of their life cycle. As adults, beloved underwing moths have bright and bold hindwings, typically a shade of red or orange.

Northern red-bellied turtle hatchling emerges after overwintering
Last summer, as construction of Headquarters was wrapping up, we observed many female turtles laying their eggs in the areas surrounding the new building. With the recent arrival of spring, we have been lucky to see many hatchlings emerging from their nests, making their way to the pond. Most turtles hatch in 2-3 months, and while some emerge from the nest after hatching, others spend their first winter in the nest cavity, a process called overwintering. This red-bellied turtle hatchling, approximately 1 inch in diameter, was seen in the driveway of Headquarters just a few weeks ago. Normally, we do not interfere with the wildlife on the Refuge, but in this case, we helped the hatchling by moving her/him closer to the water, and out of harm's way from vehicles on the driveway.

A potpourri of plant life at the Refuge Our diverse habitat provides for a great variety of plants. They range from those that live on the ground, thrive in swamps or in open water to those that make other plants their home. We continue to add to our growing list of photographs, including those of newly identified plants as well for those already in our records, but for which we did not have images. The photos here represent just a few examples of the diversity of species. You can see the full list of the hundreds of species seen at the Refuge in our Plants at the Refuge page on our Web site.

As part of the vital and globally unique ecosystem that is the Pine Barrens, the Refuge is home to many endangered and threatened species. Please make a pledge to sponsor a Refuge habitat or choose to support one of the species of animals who call this protected land 'home'. You can easily do this through an automatic monthly PayPal donation (you do not need a PayPal account, just a credit card). Go to our Donate page to make your choice and subscribe. Your recurrent donations will be used, as with all our income, to continue protecting the Refuge from harm and allowing the inhabitants to live freely.

Here are your choices:

Wetland habitat: $30.00 Pine forest habitat: $25.00 Bald eagle: $20.00 Beaver kit: $15.00
River otter: $15.00 Eastern box turtle: $15.00 Red fox: $10.00 Your personal favorite: $20.00 All habitats and animals: $60.00

Continuing reminder about helping us help wildlife today
This Refuge, and its nearly 800 acres of rigorously protected habitat, is home and sanctuary for hundreds of animal and plant species; many of the animal species have been here for generations. The Refuge depends entirely on the support of our donors for our day-to-day expenses! We know that you have limited resources and need to consider which of numerous worthwhile causes to support. We hope, however, that you can again find it possible to give us a donation--today--of any amount. We and the wildlife need your support now.

Here are a few of the current issues where animals can benefit from your help. We urge you to take action and share with others.

“Animals Deserve Gender Pronouns, Too”

On March 26, United Poultry Concerns posted “Groups Urge Associated Press to Update Animal Pronouns”. It features an Open Letter, initiated by In Defense of Animals, urging The Associated Press to update its pronoun recommendations for nonhuman animals from “what” to “who.” For decades, the AP’s Stylebook recommendations on the use of personal pronouns for nonhuman animals have cast animals as “it,” “which,” and similar demeaning and inaccurate designations that influence media coverage and public perception.

Signed by more than 80 respected leaders and scholars in animal advocacy and conservation across the globe who support this change including Dr. Jane Goodall, this letter, joined by United Poultry Concerns, captured the attention of esteemed National Public Radio writer and broadcaster Scott Simon, who posted this opinion piece saying that NPR should be on the frontlines of evolving our language about animals.

Please THANK Scott Simon for his supportive opinion piece on behalf of nonhuman animals and the importance of representing them in our speech and writing with respectful personal pronouns, including “she,” “he,” and “who.”

Contact Scott Simon through his show Weekend Edition Saturday: Contact an NPR show or podcast.

Contact NPR’s Public Editor on Ethics: Ask the Public Editor about ethics.

Please note that you do NOT need to enter the “Link or URL to story” to successfully submit your message. However, you do need to complete all parts of the form that are starred (*) including the name of the show where it says "I’m writing about". The name of the show is “Animals Deserve Gender Pronouns, Too”.

Contact mindbodygreen and urge them to refrain from promoting slaughtered emu parts as health and beauty aids

Emu oil is obtained by slaughtering an emu. There is no other way to get this oil which is touted by emu exploiters as a virtual cure-all for whatever ails you. Put a glow on your face by smearing slaughtered emu oil on your nose, lips, and cheeks! Soothe and smooth your body with it! Just make sure before purchasing those dainty bottles and tubes of this wondrous “wellness” ointment that it is “sustainably, ethically sourced”!

What does this mean? It means commercial assurance that the emus are/were “free-range” and "humanely" killed. Oh, and "treated with respect and affection." Most importantly, it means assurance that the emu was not slaughtered only for his or her oil, processed from the thick layer of fat beneath the bird’s skin, a reserve for hard times in the emu’s native Australia where this fleet-footed, flightless, and gentle nomad evolved 90 million years ago.

“Sustainably, ethically sourced” means turning 95 percent of the dead bird into marketable products: “The emu's skin can be used to make leather for clothing and accessories; the meat, which is lean but high in omega-3 fatty acids, is a popular protein; there are potential uses for emu feathers; and the bird's giant black eggs are carved and painted to create unique pieces of art.”

On March 29, 2021, UPC posted the following letter to a wellness/mindfulness business at www.mindbodygreen.com that in 2019 featured an article boasting the health and beauty benefits of emu oil. We encourage you to contact support@mindbodygreen.com and politely urge refraining from promoting slaughtered animal parts as health and beauty aids. When you encounter promotions of emu oil or other slaughter products, please educate and advocate for the birds. If we want our own bodies to be respected, let’s practice respect for theirs as well.

Unexpected Wildlife Refuge
Mailing address: P.O. Box 765, Newfield, New Jersey 08344-0765
Web site: http://unexpectedwildliferefuge.org/
E-mail: info@unexpectedwildliferefuge.org
Telephone: 856.697.3541