Thanks to Outdoor Club of South Jersey for donation
Unexpected Wildlife Refuge thanks the Outdoor Club of South Jersey (OCSJ) for their generous donation of $1,000 to help us in our mission to protect wildlife. Representatives Pat Burton, Chris Denneler and Millicent Moore came to the Refuge in June to present us with the check. On hand were Jen Collins, our manager, and Trustee Dave Sauder (see photo, taken by Millicent; from left to right: Pat, Chris, Jen and Dave). We greatly appreciate this 'unexpected' help and hope others will join OCSJ in supporting the Refuge.

Trustee 'suits up' for another typical day at the Refuge
When Trustee Dave Sauder showed up to help out with some work at the Refuge, he found that getting the tools he needed was going to present a bit of a challenge. A family of paper wasps had built their nest next to the locking mechanism on the shed door (see photo). Dave's primary concern was to get the tools without harming the wasps, but he also wanted to avoid being stung. He donned a rain slicker, snowmobile hard plastic mask and rubber gloves (see photo) before attempting to open the door. Each time he made progress on opening the door, the wasps would swarm after him, but his improvised 'armor' saved him from being stung. He eventually got the door open and retrieved the tools while the wasps eyed him from their nest. He 'endured' the same onslaught of concerned wasps after he returned the tools and was shutting the door, but was happy to report that no wasps – or people – were harmed in the process. Such is life at the Refuge. We thank Dave for not only his volunteer work, but also for his commitment to not harming others in the process.

NJ Pinelands Commission photographer visits Refuge
Paul Leakan, a photographer and wildlife enthusiast with NJ Pinelands Commission, recently visited the Refuge. He shared with us some of the photos and video he took and posted on his Instagram account. As have others who have recently visited the Refuge, he was impressed with the habitat and the rich diversity of life therein. We hope you will enjoy his photographs as much as we did:

• Media 1
• Media 2
• Media 3
• Media 4

Here are some recent news media articles concerning beavers. You can see our entire and growing list, a tribute to this wonderful keystone species, in 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.

The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter

Goldfarb's presentation explores how the modern idea of what a healthy landscape looks like and how it functions is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America's waterways. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: ponds drained, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat.

Saratoga PLAN creates way for humans, beavers to co-exist at Galway Nature Preserve

By Lauren Halligan

Rather than treat the beavers as a nuisance, Saratoga PLAN implemented a solution called the Beaver Deceiver, a water level device that allows the animals to build dams without causing flooding.

Calls for government strategy to reintroduce beavers

A Defra spokesperson said: 'Beavers have a special place in English heritage and can play a role in creating new havens for wildlife as well as boosting our natural biodiversity. We welcome applications for trial reintroductions of beavers where these benefits are clear.'

Learning to live with the beaver

By Kathleen McQuillan

Ms McQuillan describes her relationship with resident beavers and provides some historical and biological information.

Coalition set up to stop bear hunt in New Jersey
A coalition, established to stop the bear hunt in New Jersey, has filed a petition with the Department of Environmental Protection to repeal rules permitting bear hunting. The Coalition has also sent a letter to Governor Murphy urging him to issue an executive order to stop the 2020 bear hunt.

Please register your support for the campaign to help these iconic and majestic animals by signing the Coalition petition: LET'S END THE BEAR HUNT

Help protect the Monk parakeet in New Jersey
Please urge your state legislators to co-sponsor and support A4324/S2640. This proposed legislation would provide protection to help prevent the cruel destruction and removal of Monk parakeet nests, eggs and unfledged birds and, instead, allow wild parrot rescuers to help utility companies with humane alternatives.

If you do not know who your legislators are or how to contact them, click here for the legislative contact Web page.

Background: Although not native to the US, Monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots, were introduced by the thousands in the 1990s as 'pets'. From then followed the usual scenario for situations like these: individuals escaped or were purposefully released and were able to establish themselves. Concern for agriculture and other species prompted NJ to consider the birds "potentially dangerous". This has been shown to be false. Regardless, it is not the birds' fault that they are in this predicament. Rather, it is, once again, human activity that has created the problem. At this time, the only fair and humane approach would be to consider the birds part of the ecosystem and to provide them with protection like other birds.

Update on Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act
The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act, along with $300 million in dedicated funding for wildlife crossings, has passed the House floor with bipartisan support. Biodiversity loss and disruption of natural wildlife habitats are major threats to US species, including those in New Jersey. One in five US species is at risk of extinction. Connecting habitats through corridors and crossings is a significant step toward biodiversity protection.

Contact your US Senator and ask them to support this Act: click here for contact information

For more information: Landmark Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Wildlife Corridors Passes the U.S. House of Representatives

Black vultures fledging at Headquarters
You may recall from our April 2020 newsletter that we introduced you to a pair of black vultures who were nesting in our cabin barn attic. For the next few months, they stayed busy preparing for the arrival of and subsequently taking care of their young. We patiently waited, while in the safe cover of the attic, the vultures took turns incubating their eggs and then caring for the hatchlings. We heard a lot of movement during this time, occasionally witnessing evidence of their shared duties as one parent was out and about while the other stayed with the young. In mid July, we saw the fledglings for the first time and were fortunate to witness their antics and get photos to share. It was exciting to watch their development over the last month; from practice flights to exploring their surroundings and even getting to watch feedings (young vultures push their beaks into their parents' mouths to retrieve regurgitated food; see photo). It has been a flurry of activity and it will be bittersweet when these 'new' vultures fly off. We hope the parents or others will once again choose this site for a nest.

A variety of skimmer dragonflies make the Refuge their home
The vast water habitat at the Refuge is a haven for many species of dragonflies including those referred to as skimmers. Dragonflies depend on water for part of their life cycle. Females lay eggs in or near the water. After hatching, the nymphs spend up to several years in the water, eventually climbing out onto vegetation where they will shed their exoskeleton (exuvia) and emerge as the winged insect with whom most people are familiar. In one photo here, you can see the freshly shed skin of a newly emerged female yellow-sided skimmer. We spotted her resting near the main pond while her wings dried out before flying off in search of food and a mate. Within about a week, she will have achieved full adult coloration to include yellow and brown markings on her wings. The species here are sexually dimorphic, meaning that females and males appear different once their full adult coloration has been reached, the males being more brightly colored. Of the males pictured here, the great blue is the largest of the skimmers. Male skimmers are known to defend their small territories from other males of the same species. Females choose their mates based on who offers the best area for her to lay her eggs.

Green is the name and the color of this frog
Green frogs, seen here quietly resting in and near a vernal pond off of Miller Pond, are opportunistic, inhabiting different types of water habitat. They are usually diurnal, though they can also be active at night when temperatures are warm. On colder days, their skin may change to a darker color, helping them to absorb heat. They seek larger and permanent bodies of water, such as the nearby Miller Pond, for breeding, unlike the small and transient pond in the photos. Like all frogs using external fertilization, the male rides on top of the female and releases his sperm as the female extrudes her eggs. The eggs often become attached to submerged vegetation. Metamorphosis can occur within the same breeding season or tadpoles may overwinter to metamorphose the next summer.

Whirligig beetles on Miller Pond
We spotted this group of whirligig beetles on the water at Miller Pond. These insects have specialized compound eyes, divided into upper and lower halves, which allow them to see above and below the water surface simultaneously. Gregarious by nature, whirligigs are often found in groups, which helps protect individuals from predation, but also increases competition for food. If one is exceptionally hungry, he or she may risk the exposure and venture off from the group in search of food. When alarmed, the beetles move in circles and, if they perceive a threat, dive below the surface.

Snapping turtle causes temporary traffic jam
Sometimes, when residents of the Refuge make an appearance, our plans have to change accordingly. What started out as a routine errand to retrieve the Refuge mail at the Post Office was temporarily postponed by a bit of a traffic jam. Rounding a corner of our long and winding driveway, we came across this female 'common' snapping turtle who was in no hurry to cross the lane. We sat there patiently as she eventually and ponderously crossed the lane after several stops and starts. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to watch her as she made her way, almost certainly looking for a site to lay her eggs. Female snapping turtles travel over land to find sandy soil in which to lay their eggs, often some distance from the water as was the case here, typically depositing 20 to 40 eggs. We hope you will enjoy this video as much as we did in the process of recording it.

White-tailed deer takes advantage of abundant lily pads in the main pond
In this tranquil scene, a white-tailed deer was grazing on lily pads one morning in the main pond. White-tailed deer are crepuscular, typically most active and looking for food at dawn and dusk. During the middle of the day, they tend to find a nice spot to lay down and rest. As this doe grazed, she would intermittently rotate her ears or turn her head as she was alerted to different sounds in the area. Considered a keystone species, white-tailed deer directly and beneficially impact the lives of plants and other animals. Their feeding habits and preferences increase biodiversity and encourage new plant growth.

Beavers at the Miller Pond spillway
Although we often see evidence of the presence of the resident beavers at the Refuge, it is less often that we are able to enjoy observing them directly. One lucky evening while patrolling down to Miller Pond, Jen saw two beavers playfully swimming and jumping into the water. After a little swimming back and forth, one beaver climbed out of the water, was not satisfied the situation was safe and turned and jumped back in with a loud splash. This happened several times. While beavers are often busy with the ecologically beneficial work of constructing and maintaining their habitat, it is fun to watch them take a break and play. The photos are snapshots taken from each of the videos Jen took: "Beavers" shows a parent and child navigating the water, "Beaver" is of the adult who kept changing his mind about emerging from the water.

Wood duck family near Wild Goose Blind
This female wood duck and her ducklings were photographed by one of our trail cameras in late spring. A wood duck's clutch size can range from six to 16 eggs. If there is another nest nearby, the female may lay some of her eggs there. Egg dumping – the laying of eggs into someone else's nest – is common among many waterfowl species, wood ducks in particular. Wood ducks also regularly raise two broods in one year, something unusual for North American ducks. The ducklings here were well camouflaged and moved continuously, making it difficult to see them clearly; we counted at least six in the series.

Wood frog along Cedar Bridge Trail
This wood frog eyed us nervously as he sat in this little hollow of earth along a swampy area of Cedar Bridge Trail. Wood frogs have a distinct black marking across their eyes, almost appearing as if they are wearing a mask. Adults usually live in woodlands and lay their eggs in vernal pools. During winter, they take shelter in leaf litter and are very tolerant of cold temperatures. During the freezing weather of winter, they stop breathing and their hearts stop beating. Their bodies produce a special substance made of urea and glucose which acts as an antifreeze, preventing ice from forming within their cells. When the weather warms, the frogs thaw and begin feeding and mating again.

Cedar waxwing visits Headquarters
On a spring day, Trustee Leor Veleanu visited the Refuge and spotted this beautiful cedar waxwing in a tree near our new Headquarters. Cedar waxwings stand out due to their distinct and unique color patterns and smooth and shiny feathers. They are very social birds, living and nesting in large flocks. Their diet consists primarily of berries. In the winter, they may eat twice their body weight each day, around 800-1,000 berries. They can sometimes appear drunk after feasting on overripe fermented berries. When a male waxwing sets out in search of a mate, he often carries a berry which he then passes to the female in an effort to impress her. The female waxwing then takes the berry and returns it to him, repeating the gifting ritual until eventually, mating takes place.

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

Simple ways to help the Refuge
Do you have a birthday coming up? Instead of buying presents for you, you could ask your friends to make a donation to the Refuge. Or, what about that stuff in your garage you have been meaning to get rid of through a yard sale? Why not pledge to give the proceeds to the Refuge, letting the public know that their purchase price will go to help wildlife and the environment.

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. We depend 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.

Helping wildlife and the Refuge in the future
Please remember Unexpected Wildlife Refuge when planning your will and estate. It is an easy, effective and lasting way to help the Refuge... and wildlife. When talking with your estate planner, just provide them with our name, address and tax identification number (23-7025010). This is one of the most important gifts the Refuge can receive. If you have already included us in your future plans, thank you!

Here are a few of the current issues where wildlife, whether living freely or imprisoned in circuses, zoos or other venues, can benefit from your help. We urge you to take action and share with others.

URGENT: Please help protect Scottish beavers; 27 August deadline

We just learned that we have until the 27th of this month (August) to sign a petition to the Scottish Parliament asking them to relocate rather than allow the killing of beavers. Despite beavers in Scotland having received European Protected Species status in 2019, a shocking 87 individuals (one-fifth of the population) have been allowed to be killed under government licence. The Scottish government needs to know that the public, worldwide, finds this unacceptable.

Please sign and share this petition at once: Translocate protected beavers to reduce licensed killing

Tax payers must not pay to bail out aquariums that imprison marine mammals

The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums has requested $800 million from Congress to help them get by during COVID-19. There is growing public awareness of the extreme inhumanity of keeping marine mammals such as dolphins and whales in captivity. This is an opportunity for the US taxpayer to demand that their taxes not be used to bail out any aquarium that continues to imprison these animals. Further, the entities must make and follow through on a plan to release all imprisoned individuals and discontinue exploiting them in the interim.

You can help these marine mammals:

1. Please sign and share this petition: Aquariums must end captivity of marine mammals
2. Write to your legislators and tell them to not fund any bail out unless aquariums stop keeping marine mammals in captivity; click here for contact information
3. Do not patronize any facility that is keeping marine mammals in captivity; let the facility operators know why

Stop the Trump Administration from allowing the killing of baby bears and wolves

There are no data to support the systematic killing of any predators such as bears and wolves. The Trump Administration, however, not only want to maintain this biologically and morally unconscionable practice, they want to expand the decimation to allow killing babies in their dens. Trump and his administration have been recklessly trampling over wildlife and the environment. We need to stop this wanton disregard for those with whom we share this world.

Please sign and share this petition: Trump Is Allowing Hunters to Kill Baby Bears and Wolves in Their Sleep

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