Wildlife |
|
Birds (see bird
list)
Many
migratory birds are "funneled" through the Wallkill Valley. The
Wallkill River bottomland is one of the few, large areas of high quality waterfowl
habitat remaining in northwestern New Jersey. As a major watershed and wetland
complex, the Wallkill River provides migratory and nesting habitat for Atlantic
Flyway black duck populations as well as wood duck, mallard, green-winged
teal, common mergansers, and Canada geese.
 |
| Meadowlark |
In summer, songbirds such as the
beautiful indigo bunting, bobolink, scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, grasshopper
sparrow, savannah sparrow, cedar waxwing, and chestnut-sided warbler bring
color and melody to the refuge. Kestrels nest in abundance on the refuge,
and the "who cooks for you" call of the barred owl can often be
heard. Great blue heron and green herons are perennial summer inhabitants
in the refuge’s wetlands. Wood duck and mallards breed on the refuge.
The fall migration brings waterfowl, such as the black duck, shorebirds, and
the songbirds that had nested further north. Raptors are plentiful during
fall migration as well, when sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawk, and
broad-winged hawks fill the sky on clear September days. Short-eared owls,
northern harriers, and rough-legged hawks are found primarily during the winter.
In summer, songbirds such as the
beautiful indigo bunting, bobolink, scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, grasshopper
sparrow, savannah sparrow, cedar waxwing, and chestnut-sided warbler bring
color and melody to the refuge. Kestrels nest in abundance on the refuge,
and the "who cooks for you" call of the barred owl can often be
heard. Great blue heron and green herons are perennial summer inhabitants
in the refuge’s wetlands. Wood duck and mallards breed on the refuge.
The fall migration brings waterfowl, such as the black duck, shorebirds, and
the songbirds that had nested further north. Raptors are plentiful during
fall migration as well, when sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawk, and
broad-winged hawks fill the sky on clear September days. Short-eared owls,
northern harriers, and rough-legged hawks are found primarily during the winter.
<top of page>
|
Mammals
Approximately 40 mammal species
occur on the Refuge. The Refuge is particularly important regionally for
providing habitat for bobcat (Lynx rufus; state-listed endangered) and
black bear (Ursus americanus). These large mammals require the large,
unfragmented patches of habitat that the Refuge preserves. Game and furbearer
species include include: opossum (Didelphis virginiana), raccoon (Procyon
lotor), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), river otter (Lutra canadensis),
mink (Mustela vison), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus),
coyote (Canis latrans), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis),
muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), beaver (Castor canadensis), eastern cottontail
(Sylvilagus floridanus), and whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
 |
| Bear |
Whitetail deer, muskrats, and woodchucks
(Marmota monax) have substantial impacts on Refuge habitats and management
activities. Whitetail deer populations on the Refuge and surrounding areas
are high and have negatively affected the structure and composition of plant
communities. Consequently, the habitat for many wildlife species has been
degraded. Muskrats and woodchucks cause extensive damage to Refuge dikes through
their burrowing activities. This damage inhibits the Refuge's capability to
manage water levels in impoundments for wetland wildlife. Feral cats are common
on the Refuge and contribute to the mortality of small birds and mammals.
Several species of bat occur on
the refuge, such as little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), big brown bat (Eptesicus
fuscus), red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), and silver-haired
bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). Since 1998, Dr. Lance Risley from William
Patterson University has been studying bat populations and bat foraging ecology
on the refuge and at other sites in northern New Jersey. Dr. Risley is conducting
this research because, though the ecological value of bats as insectivores
is well known, their general ecology is poorly understood. Dr. Risley's research
will further define habitat preference of bats in northern New Jersey by locating
and characterizing daily roosting sites within forest preserves. His research
takes place between May and August and involves capturing bats using mist
nets, monitoring high-frequency bat vocalizations, and attaching radio transmitters
to pregnant female bats to determine the location of their roosting sites.
Bats are released unharmed each night. Three bat species have been captured:
little brown bat, big brown bat, and red bat.
<top of page>
|
Reptiles and Amphibians
The mixed topography of the refuge
yields a wide variety habitats for reptiles and amphibians, including vernal
pools, calcareous fens, rocky woodland slopes, floodplain swamps, emergent
marshes, small rocky streams, and open meadows. Consequently, the refuge supports
a great diversity of reptiles and amphibians, including several on Federal
and State lists of rare and declining species. In fact, few areas in northern
New Jersey support such a large concentration of species in need of protection.
Also, the Refuge protects habitat in one of only two river drainages in New
Jersey occupied by the blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale; state-listed
endangered). Other listed species on the Refuge include eastern mud salamander
(Pseudotriton montanus), longtail salamander (Eurycea longicauda), wood turtle
(Clemmys insculpta; state-listed threatened), northern spring salamander (Gyrinophilus
p. porphyriticus), spotted turtle (C. guttata), and eastern box turtle (Terrapene
c. carolina; state-listed special concern pending).
The most abundant herptile species
of the Refuge include northern redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus),
northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata), northern spring peeper
(Pseudacris c. crucifer), green frog (Rana clamitans melanota), common
snapping turtle (Chelydra s. serpentina), eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys
p. picta), northern water snake (Nerodia s. sipedon), and eastern garter
snake (Thamnophis s. sirtalis).
The refuge is currently participating
in five herpetology surveys: 1) the Regional anuran call count survey; 2)
vernal pool survey ; 3) streamside salamander survey; 4) malformed frog surveys;
and 5) surveys for the NJ Herptile Atlas.
Since 2000, the refuge participates
in the regional anuran call count surveys. These are an effective way to determine
species occurrence and abundance, the effects of management activities, and
evaluate the overall health of the habitat.
Beginning in 2001, the refuge has
assisted the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Northeast Amphibian Research and
Monitoring Initiative in the long term monitoring of streamside salamanders
and vernal pool breeding amphibians. The objectives of this initiative are
to determine the status and trends of amphibians in the Northeast for the
ultimate goal of conserving amphibian populations and establishing a long
term monitoring program on Department of Interior lands.
There is a concern that pesticides
from agricultural operations or from mosquito control activities may be causing
deformities in amphibians in the northern part of the country. In 1997 on
two sites, and in 1998 on four sites, the refuge conducted preliminary surveys
for frog abnormalities. In 1999, a comprehensive survey of four sites was
conducted by the USFWS Chesapeake Bay Field Office. Based on the 1999 data,
a follow-up survey was conducted in 2000. The results indicate that although
frogs with abnormalities were found on the refuge, there was not enough evidence
to suggest these levels were outside the range of natural variability. The
study was concluded in this area (Eaton-Poole and Pickney, 2001).
Refuge staff participate in the
NJ Herptile Atlas Study and have done so since 1997. Headed by the NJ DEP
Endangered and Nongame Program, this is a comprehensive survey of all reptile
and amphibian species throughout the state.
<top of page>
|
Invertebrates
Most invertebrates are poorly documented
on the refuge. However, surveys have been completed for dragonflies and damselflies
(Odonata), butterflies (Papilionoidea), mosquitoes (Culicidae), and mussels
(Unionacea) in the Wallkill River.
Dr. Allen Barlow, a regionally
noted entomologist, in 2000 documented 65 species of dragonfly and damselfly
on the Refuge. In fact, the Refuge supports one of the most diverse Odonate
communities in the Northeast. Most significant of these include the first
state occurrences of midland clubtail (Gomphus fraternus) and skillet
clubtail (Gomus ventricosus). See the Refuge
dragonfly and damselfly list.
The Refuge provides habitat
for a large diversity of butterfly species. In 2001, the regionally rare
Milbert's tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milberti) was documented on the Refuge.
Also, the July 4, North American Butterfly Association (NABA) count conducted
in 2001 documented the national high count of 1,737 red admirals (Vanessa
atalanta). See the Refuge
butterfly list.
Annual refuge surveys of mosquitoes
were initiated in response to community concerns with the threat of West
Nile virus. The most common species of mosquitoes are Aedes vexans, Ochlerotatus
sticiticus, O. canadensis, O. stimulans, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and
A. punctipennis. These species are the target of control activities conducted
on the Refuge by the Sussex County Mosquito Control Commission. Mosquito
surveillance is typically accomplished through larval dip counts. Larvicides
are used on a limited basis to control mosquitos during their most concentrated
stages.
Four freshwater mussel species
were found during surveys for dwarf wedgemussel in stretches of the Wallkill
River that pass through the Refuge. These species include eastern elliptio
(Elliptio complanata), eastern floater (Pyganodon cataracta), creeper (Strophitus
undulatus), and eastern lampmussel (Lampsilis radiata). The eastern lampmussel
is a state-listed threatened species and the creeper is a state special concern
species (pending).
<top of page>
|
Fish
The Wallkill River itself provides
an excellent warmwater fishery for largemouth bass, pickerel, perch, sunfish,
and bullheads. While some of the streams that enter the Wallkill River have
native brook trout populations, the stocking of brown trout by the State stops
near Hamburg, New Jersey, where the Wallkill River changes from a primarily
gravelly bottom to a more silty bottom.
The segments of the Wallkill River
that run through the Refuge are classified as non-trout waters. However, the
upper stretches of several tributaries are considered trout maintenance waters
(capable of supporting stocked trout). Three river tributaries (Franklin Pond
Creek, Sparta Glen Brook, and a tributary to the Wallkill in Ogdensburg) support
naturally reproducing populations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).
Franklin Pond Creek also supports reproducing brown trout (Salmo trutta).
<top of page>
|
Federal Threatened and Endangered
Species
The Refuge provides habitat for
73 types of vertebrate and invertebrate wildlife that are listed as endangered,
threatened, special concern, or priority species.
Wallkill River Refuge is one
of only two National Wildlife Refuges in which the Federal threatened
bog turtle is known to occur. Further, bog turtle populations and potential
habitats exist within the Refuge's acquisition boundary that are hydrologically
and ecologically connected to those within the current Refuge (Sciascia
and Tesauro 1997). Bog turtles have suffered a 50 percent decline in range
and numbers during the last 20 years (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2001).
The Refuge preserves open-canopy wetlands that have a mosaic of micro-habitats,
including dry pockets, saturated areas, and periodically flooded areas
that this species requires. One of the highest priorities in Refuge operations
is preservation, enhancement, restoration and management of bog turtle
habit and research and monitoring of bog turtle populations. In fact,
Wallkill River Refuge could be an anchor point for bog turtle recovery
in the Northeast.
Potential habitat exists in the
Wallkill River for the Federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta
heterodon). The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame
Species Program conducted surveys for this species in segments of the river
running through the Refuge in 1999 (USFWS 2001) and 2001. These surveys did
not detect dwarf wedgemussels or their shells. However, numerous stretches
of suitable habitat were found consisting of sandy substrate or sand patches,
little to no silt, and slow to moderate current. Additionally, the mussel's
host fish, the tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi), occurs in the river.
Further, four freshwater mussel species that are often associated with dwarf
wedgemussel occurrences were found. Additional surveys are needed to confirm
the presence or absence of this species on the refuge.
<top of page>
|
|
