Wildlife Encounters

3+ mon, 3+ week ago   (253+ words) BELMAR — A large section of this Monmouth County beach is closed to humans as protected birds enjoy time in the sun. According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, one pair of American Oystercatchers has claimed the chunk of Belmar…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago   (511+ words) A nearly 10-foot, 600-pound great white shark nicknamed "Quint," has been poking around the Jersey Shore for the last two days, perhaps getting here early to beat all the Memorial Day traffic. He was last spotted several miles east of…...

4+ mon, 5+ day ago   (138+ words) OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. (PIX11) — A great white shark measuring 8 feet 10 inches was tracked off the New Jersey coast, east of Seaside Park and Toms River, late Wednesday night, according to the nonprofit OCEARCH. The tagged shark, named Nori, is a juvenile female…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago   (221+ words) Wal’s well that ends well! A 2-year-old wallaby has been safely returned after it escaped from its enclosure at the Cape May County Park & Zoo overnight Monday. The Cape May County Sheriff’s Office and Middle Township cops joined zoo staff in…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago   (307+ words) Timber rattlesnakes are strictly protected in New Jersey. The northern pine snake looks dramatic but defends itself by bluffing and hissing loudly, rather than using venom. Many adults reach 4 to 6 feet long and show bold dark blotches over a light…...

5+ mon, 4+ day ago   (72+ words) A New Jersey state trooper tried to catch the bear cub once but it slipped right out of his hands. He was eventually able to get a hold of the animal and bring it to safety. A New Jersey state…...

5+ mon, 1+ week ago   (162+ words) With the arrival of spring, it's not just us humans who are roaming about more after a long winter. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has issued a warning to remind residents that black bears are emerging from…...

5+ mon, 3+ week ago   (310+ words) The start of spring brings more than just warm weather; the new season also marks the return of hummingbirds. Every year when the temperatures rise, hummingbirds migrate back into the United States. The birds are among the smallest in the…...

6+ mon, 1+ week ago   (499+ words) New Jersey’s rugged forests and rocky highlands remain home to a small but stable population of timber rattlesnakes, with the endangered reptiles continuing to inhabit several popular hiking destinations across the northern and western parts of the state. Though rarely…...

6+ mon, 3+ week ago   (112+ words) The NJ DEP has received over 1,100 calls for dead wild birds. Harsh winter conditions and possible bird flu are suspected... NJ DEP flooded with calls for dead wild birds, flu suspected in some Hundreds of dead birds are being reported…...