A small, but relatively stable, population of red fox are found at Island Beach year round, even though most summer visitors never see them.
During warmer months when food is abundant, they maintain their normal nocturnal schedule and are usually seen between dusk and dawn. As food becomes less abundant in the winter months, the red fox can be found along the road edge, begging for food. As charming as they may be, nature provides these "beautiful beggars" with sufficient food in the wild.
Although red fox are solitary for much of the year, they are believed to mate for life. Four to nine kits are born in late March/early April. After approximately 10 weeks, they will join their mother to learn and practice hunting skills. In the early fall, they will split up in search of their own territory.
With approximately 27 pairs of osprey, Island Beach is home to New Jersey's famous nesting osprey colony. They make their homes on man-made platforms in the Sedge Islands. Also known as fish hawks, ospreys feed exclusively on fish and can sometimes be seen hovering before they plunge feet first after their slippery prey.
Prior to 1950, there were over 500 active osprey nests in New Jersey. Loss of habitat and the use of pesticides, particularly DDT, caused their population to decrease dramatically. By 1973 only 50 nesting pairs were found in the state. The osprey and many other predators were an endangered species. Following an extensive restoration project, the osprey population was upgraded to threatened status in 1995.
Osprey return from their wintering grounds in Central and South America in late March and stay on and around their nests until the nestlings fledge (fly) around the fourth of July. They typically begin their southerly migration in late August /early September.
These beautiful predators can be observed at the Spizzle Creek Bird Blind Trail between parking areas A-19 and A-20. Osprey are very sensitive to disturbances in the area surrounding their nests and visitors by land or water should never approach within 200 yards of an occupied nest. The paths of some New Jersey osprey are tracked via satellite on the Highway to the Tropics website at:
http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu
HELP PROTECT our dunes
There is no finer example of a barrier island ecosystem than here at Island Beach State Park. With
10 miles of spectacular coastal dunes, the park provides an opportunity to see our coast as it was
when the first Europeans arrived in the
17th century. But dunes are much more than a beautiful
landscape; they are necessary to protect the barrier island from damaging storms and protect the mainland
from major storms and hurricanes.
There is no better or more economical system of protecting our coast than natural dunes. American beach grass is the champion dune building plant upon which the whole cycle depends. After a storm, the sand is carried to the beach by waves and deposited in the dune area. Wind driven sand stimulates the grass to grow even faster, but it can be destroyed by a few footsteps from a careless visitor. It is an amazing system that has evolved over thousands of years. There are dunes at Island Beach over 30 feet high!
You can help protect the dunes of Island Beach State Park by always using designated access paths to the beach. The "toe" of the dune nearest the beach is especially sensitive to trampling and beach blankets. Make sure than there is no vegetation when selecting your spot on the beach. Never walk to the top of the dune for a better view or allow pets to run into the dune area. Take time to explain to children why dunes are so important in protecting the park for future generations. If we all follow these simple rules, we can ensure that the dunes of Island Beach will always welcome visitors to one of New Jersey's special places.
Don't Get Bugged!
1. The famous New Jersey mosquitoes are most active from dusk to sunrise and in the areas of dense vegetation west of the main park road. Mosquito "broods" will often appear after high tides. Insect repellent is a must on all bayside trails from May through October.
2. Greenheads are more numerous at the southern end of the park where tidal marshes provide breeding habitat. During heavy greenhead periods in June and July, move north to the bathhouse areas to avoid these aerial marauders. Long clothing is recommended for bayside activities.
3. Stable flies are a small biting fly that resemble the common housefly. They are aggressive and can occur in enormous numbers during the summer months. Sea breezes will keep the beaches free of flies, however, sustained west winds will make enjoyment of the beach impossible.
Island Beach. Precautions should be taken when walking the trails that have been cut through densely vegetated areas. Wear light colored clothing, tuck pant legs into socks and shirt into pants and stay in the middle of the trail.