CyberHudson:
Web Site Explores N.J. Wildlife – Beyond Pigeons

by Joel Lewis

I know it is hard to convince a lifelong Hudson County resident that
there is wildlife in New Jersey. After all, we are the only county in the state without a farm, and it’s been over half a century since the oyster beds off Bayonne yielded anything you would dare eat on the half shell.
But believe me, there is fauna in these parts that transcends the typical rat, starling or feral cat. Last year, a deer managed to wander down to Guttenberg. And, with my own eyes, I've seen skunk and opossum (called “HUMONGOUS rats” by nature-starved locals) in North Bergen and once caught a long glimpse of a raccoon sauntering along the Palisades in Weehawken.
For those needing further convincing of what is crawling out in the Hackensack Meadows and beyond, I suggest turning your browser to Wild New Jersey (www.wildnj.com). The slogan at the site's homepage clearly states the purpose of this unique place on the Web: “created to foster an understanding of, and respect for, the wildlife and wild places in our Garden State.” (co-editor Karen Siletti, in her introduction, makes a convincing case for the abundance of nature in this industrialized Garden State: “. . . 431 bird species - resident and migratory - live in or visit New Jersey. This is more than any other state On the easter n seaboard except Massachusetts and Florida .... New Jersey is also home to 89 species of mammals, including black bears, long tailed weasels, flying squirrels, bobcats and river otters. You can find 44 species of reptiles . . . including 22 kinds of snakes . . . and 18 kinds of turtles. Our amphibian neighbors are newts, toads, salamanders and 14 kinds of frogs.
Wild New Jersey covers this overabundance of nature through well written columns and features. Currently, there is an incisive report on the battle to save the Passaic River, which one environmental group listed as the 16th most polluted river in America.
This is a terrific Jersey resource, and a good site to explore with your kids or grandkids CyberHudson also gives high marks to its up-to-date calendar of events – especially useful during the summer months with the kids out of school. In fact, if you are reading this early on Saturday, there is still a chance to hop up to Ringwood’s Weis Ecology Center and participate in the World Series of Birding. Call (973) 835-2160 for more information.

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A Walk on NJ's Wild Side
Explore NJ Wildlife - Beyond Pigeons
Getting Wild on the Web

Lynda Hester D'Orio
Karen L. Siletti