Official Site of The State of New Jersey
There are nearly forty species of native non-game terrestrial (land) mammal species that call New Jersey home, and another twenty species of marine mammals living in our coastal waters. Among them, the Bobcat, Allegheny woodrat and Indiana bat are considered endangered, and several more imperiled bat species will soon be added to that list. Three whale species which occur off the state’s coast – the Humpback, Fin and North Atlantic right whales – are listed as both state and federally endangered.
The links below lead to pages with information about some of New Jersey’s mammals.
Bobcats
The bobcat is a native wild cat historically found throughout New Jersey. Their numbers declined in the 1800s as forests were cleared for lumber, fuel and agriculture, and by the early 1970s they were thought to be extirpated (locally extinct) from the state. Between 1978 and 1982, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife conducted a reintroduction project through which 24 bobcats were trapped in Maine and released in northern NJ. The bobcat was listed as Endangered in New Jersey in 1991.
Today bobcats appear to be rebounding in northern New Jersey, but there continue to be very few observations in the central and southern regions of the state. Their elusive nature makes them a challenge to study. Learn more about our efforts to better understand NJ’s bobcat population using a wildlife detection dog, roadkills, genetics, and other methods in the information below.
The public can help by reporting bobcat observations using the NJ Wildlife Tracker Application (please include photos if you have them!)
Report an injured or dead bobcat via the DEP Hotline: 1-877-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).
Bobcat Fact Sheet (pdf)
Bobcats in New Jersey with biologist Gretchen Fowles (DEP Podcast, 3/29/17)
Dogs and Bobcats (‘Creature Show’ film about bobcats in New Jersey)
Trapper Information: Accidental Trapping of Bobcat (pdf, 625kb)
Trappers finding a bobcat on their trapline are required to report the occurrence within 24 hours by calling 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337), but are strongly encouraged to call IMMEDIATELY upon discovery of a bobcat in any trap.
Bats
New Jersey is home to nine different bat species, and whether you live on a farm, in the forest, along the shore or in a city, bats are most certainly close by.
Like other native wildlife, bats rely on a healthy ecosystem to thrive and are affected as habitats decline. They also have unique challenges, like White-nose Syndrome for cave-hibernating bats, wind energy development for migratory bats, and adaptable habits that occasionally bring them into close quarters with people. Learn more about our fascinating night-flying neighbors, and efforts to study and conserve them in New Jersey:
Bat Conservation in New Jersey – bat ecology and our projects
Bats in Buildings – homeowner guidance for common bat issues
Bats, with NJFW biologist MacKenzie Hall – DEP Podcast, 10/28/16
“Bat Towns” – NJ municipalities home to federally-listed Indiana bats or Northern long-eared bats (USFWS)
Summer Bat Count
White-nose Syndrome Information
Importance of Bats (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
“Terror In the Bat Cave” – Creature Show film about bats in New Jersey
Allegheny Woodrats
New Jersey’s only remaining Allegheny woodrat population is found on the talus slopes of the Hudson River Palisades.
Woodrat Research (DEP YouTube Channel)
Studying the Allegheny Woodrat (NJ.com)
Allegheny Woodrat Fact Sheet (pdf)
Whales
All whale species which occur off New Jersey’s coast are on both the state and federal endangered species lists. They are managed by the International Whaling Commission.
New Jersey’s Marine Protected Wildlife Reporter
Whales Fact Sheet (pdf)
NJ Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Workshop Proceedings – April 17-19, 2006 (pdf)
