Beavers at the Refuge, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
1/ 10
Moss on Boundary Trail, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
2/ 10
Moonlit main pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
3/ 10
Elegant spreadwing damselfly, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
4/ 10
Racoon on trail camera near Wild Goose Blind, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
5/ 10
Northern water snake in main pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
6/ 10
House wren near Headquarters, photo by Leor Veleanu
7/ 10
Luna moth male on porch at Headquarters, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
8/ 10
Bleeding heart flowering near Headquarters, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
9/ 10
Northern cricket frog in Miller Pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
10/ 10
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.
Read more


Beaver Tales from Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, February 2017

Here is our latest newsletter to keep you informed about just a few of the activities and issues concerning Unexpected Wildlife Refuge. For those of you who follow us on Facebook, some of these items may be redundant, but are repeated here for others.

Beaver food 'raft', Unexpected Wildlife Photo
Beaver food 'raft'
Parents' and kits' beaver lodges and food 'raft', Unexpected Wildlife Photo
Family lodges & food 'raft'

Two-year-old beavers build their own lodge
In the photo showing two beaver lodges in the main pond, the one on the left is the parents' lodge. The one to the far right, partially obscured by plants, was recently built by two-year-old kits. There is a food 'raft' (better seen in the other photo) in between the homes. It is not unusual for beaver families to stay together with older kits helping to care for younger ones and learning the 'tools of the trade' from their parents. The kits' lodge, smaller than the parents', was good practice for the young beavers. The youngsters may have chosen this location because of the nearby food 'raft' which had been prepared for winter and now was being shared by the entire family.



Wenonah Environmental Commission visits Refuge
Recently, members of the Wenonah, New Jersey, Environmental Commission visited the Refuge to take a tour and solicit advice on how to humanely handle potential beaver-human conflicts in a public park in their township. Some of the concerns they had were about possible flooding on a water-adjacent path and cutting down of trees. While taking them on a walking tour, past beaver lodges and two very small dams, I discussed the installation of pond levellers to prevent flooding and how to protect trees that they wish to save. Thank you to Wenonah for being proactive and seeking humane alternatives!



Tree wrapped with wire to prevent beaver 'damage'
Wire-wrapped tree

Mansfield Township using humane beaver 'control' measures
Back in December, we received and shared on our social media an urgent plea to contact the mayor of Mansfield Township, New Jersey. The Township had planned to set lethal traps to kill a family of beavers on a pond adjacent a Township road. People were concerned that some older trees would be cut down by the beavers for building materials and food.

We quickly sent an E-mail appeal to the mayor, Sean Gable at the time, urging him to forgo the traps and consider allowing us and local volunteers to help with an affordable, effective and humane solution. Within hours, Mayor Gable and the Township Administrator, Mike Fitzpatrick, learning of the cruelty of the traps, agreed to cancel the plans to trap and allowed volunteers to wrap trees with wire fencing. This photo, provided by local beaver enthusiast Chuck Garrett, shows a tree on which the beavers had begun 'work', but now was protected by wire. Mayor Gable and Administrator Fitzgerald are to be commended for their compassion!



Aerial view of main pond and surrounding areas of the Refuge, courtesy Cliff Compton
Refuge from the air

Not your typical view of the Refuge
Cliff Compton, a frequent guest and aerial photographer, shared with us some new aerial photos of the Refuge. We are grateful to Cliff for these (and many others) wonderful images that provide us – and you – a unique opportunity to see the diversity of habitat that is so important for indigenous wildlife. This photo shows the main pond and surrounding land. You can see the continuation of the creek that feeds the pond, as it makes its exit down to other rich wetlands of the Refuge.



Bald eagle near the main pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
Bald eagle

Bald eagle family at Refuge
There are only an estimated 250 mated bald eagle pairs in New Jersey. We were delighted, therefore, when such a pair showed up at the Refuge with their young offspring this year. Here, one of the adults perches in a tree and watches a small opening in the ice on the main pond (not visible in photo).



Great blue heron by trail camera, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge
Great blue heron

A perfectly framed trail camera photo of a great blue heron
With the recent gift of a pair of neoprene chest waders, I was able to easily wade out and place a trail camera in foliage protruding out of the main pond. One evening, it took this ethereal, infrared photo of a great blue heron landing on the water.



Canada goose and mute swan in main pond, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
Goose & swan

Migratory visitors to the Refuge
The main pond was the scene of constant migratory activity this year. We were happy to see hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, lesser scaups and a great cormorant. This photo shows a visiting Canada goose (foreground) and mute swan resting in the water.



Northern cardinal nest, Unexpected Wildlife Refuge photo
Cardinal nest

Beautiful nest 'uncovered'
As the lush foliage began to disappear at the Refuge during the fall, we were delighted to see this beautiful, painstakingly-crafted Northern cardinal nest in the crook of a tree near the main pond. We probably walked by this nest many dozens of times during the summer and did not even know it was there. Great survival technique on the part of the parents.



Announcement of Refuge history presentation
History presentation

Presentation on Refuge history and wildlife at VSSJ event
This February 27, at 7 PM, I will be presenting a talk and slideshow about the history of Unexpected and the wildlife who call the Refuge home. This is part of the Vegetarian Society of South Jersey's lecture series and will take place at the Woodbury Public Library in Woodbury, New Jersey.



Earth Day clean up 2016
Earth Day 2016

Refuge celebration of Earth Day 2017
It is not too early to start making plans to join us in our annual celebration of Earth Day, April 22 at 11 AM. This year's Clean Up event will again be geared towards removing trash along a portion of our land bordering a two-lane road. After the Clean Up, you can come back to the Refuge for a vegan barbecue by the pond! Although a sunny day would be great, we plan to continue regardless of the weather. Please RSVP to me at director@unexpectedwildliferefuge.org or call 856.697.3541. We will make another announcement in the April newsletter.



Drawing of beavers by Hope Sawyer Buyukmihci, Refuge co-founder and artist
Beavers by HSB

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! The Refuge – and the wildlife living here – could not exist without you. 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 need your support right now. Our small operating costs continue to exceed our donations.



Helping wildlife and the Refuge in the future
We remind you to 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!


Our newsletters are the result of a team effort involving people dedicated to protecting wildlife in general and furthering the Refuge in particular:

Unexpected Wildlife Refuge
Mailing address: P.O. Box 765, Newfield, NJ 08344-0765
Web site: http://unexpectedwildliferefuge.org/
E-mail: manager@unexpectedwildliferefuge.org
Telephone: 856.697.3541
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnexpectedWildlifeRefuge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Unexpected_Wildlife_Refuge/