{"id":1720,"date":"2022-01-17T03:25:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-17T03:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=1720"},"modified":"2026-04-01T15:37:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T19:37:55","slug":"wildlife-habitat-management","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/wildlife-habitat-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildlife Habitat Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=taFNXt1vAMk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Disturbed Forest &#8211; The Forsaken Science of Healthy Forests<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;(Ruffed Grouse Society Video)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Habitat is the key to wildlife&#8217;s survival, whether in the rain forests of South America or here in New Jersey. Quality habitat provides appropriate and sufficient food, water, shelter (or cover) and sufficient space for wildlife species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New Jersey Fish and Wildlife works to protect and enhance wildlife habitat on state lands. Projects such as mowing, plantings, tree harvests and other activities on state&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/wildlife-management-areas\/\">Wildlife Management Areas<\/a>&nbsp;manipulate and enhance habitat to favor various species, often ones which are in decline (such as bobwhite quail).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Division also often works with many partners to protect and improve habitat, whether on state lands or properties in private ownership. Several programs are available for financial and\/or technical assistance to private landowners who want to improve habitat on their properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wildlife Management Area Habitat Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/assunpink-wma-american-woodcock-early-successional-habitat-project\/\">Assunpink WMA: American Woodcock Early Successional Habitat Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/assunpink-wma-habitat-project-tree-plantings\/\">Assunpink WMA Habitat Project: Tree Plantings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/assunpink-wma-wildlife-passage-system\/\">Assunpink WMA Wildlife Passage System<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/cape-may-coastal-wetlands-wma-scotch-bonnet-island-project\/\">Cape May Coastal Wetlands WMA &#8211; Beneficial Use of Dredge Materials at Scotch Bonnet Island<\/a> &#8211; Updated August, 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/capoolong-creek-wma-streambank-restoration-project\/\">Capoolong Creek WMA Streambank Restoration<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; Completed September, 2017<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/great-bay-boulevard-wma-terrapin-habitat-project\/\">Great Bay WMA Terrapin Habitat Project<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; November 2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/greenwood-forest-wma-forestry-management-activities\/\">Greenwood Forest WMA Forestry Management Activities<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/higbee-beach-wma-native-meadow-establishment\/\">Higbee Beach WMA \u2013 Native Meadow Establishment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/kenco-pequest-wma-wetland-restoration-and-enhancement-project\/\">Kenco (Pequest WMA) Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; Updated October 2018<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/manahawkin-wma-wetlands-restoration-project\/\">Manahawkin WMA Wetlands Restoration Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/manasquan-wma-wildlife-food-plots\/\">Manasquan WMA: Wildlife Food Plots<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/maintaining-young-forest-habitat-at-flatbrook-roy-wma\/\">Maintaining Young Forest Habitat at Flatbrook WMA<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/paulinskill-river-wma-hyper-humus-restoration\/\">Paulinskill River WMA Hyper Humus Restoration<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; Updated February, 2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/pequest-wetland-restoration-assessment-project\/\">Pequest Wetland Restoration Assessment Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/pond-creek-marsh-higbee-beach-wma-restoration\/\">Pond Creek Marsh (Higbee Beach WMA) Restoration<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; Updated June 25, 2021<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/stewardship-plan\/\">Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Plan Implementation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/stafford-forge-wma-field-creation-for-early-successional-habitat\/\">Stafford Forge WMA: Field Creation for Early Successional Habitat<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/south-branch-wma-habitat-restoration\/\">South Branch WMA Habitat Restoration<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/south-branch-wma-merck-tract-habitat-management-project\/\">South Branch WMA (Merck Tract) Habitat Management Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/updates-upcoming-activities\/\">Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Management Updates and Upcoming Activities<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/stafford-forge-wma-east-plains-natural-area-broom-crowberry-habitat-restoration\/\">Stafford Forge WMA, East Plains Natural Area: Broom Crowberry Habitat Restoration<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/tuckahoe-wildlife-management-area-aerial-seeding-operations\/\">Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area Aerial Seeding Operations<\/a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7v0_CWu37R0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tuckahoe WMA Impoundment Restoration Project Video<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/field-habitat-creation-winslow-wildlife-management-area\/\">Winslow WMA &#8211; Field Habitat Creation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/whiting-natural-resource-stewardship-plan-update\/\">Whiting Natural Resource Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Stewardship Plans<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/\">Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Homepage<\/a>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/smwma_approved_forest_stewardship_plan.pdf\">Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Plan<\/a> (pdf, 39mb)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/sparta-fsp-addendum-final-7-9-21.pdf\">Addendum to the 2017 Sparta Mountain WMA Forest Stewardship Plan<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 230kb) &#8211; 7\/9\/21<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=asUNvDWU2Ck\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sparta Mountain WMA Habitat Management Video<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/greenwood-forest-wma-forest-stewardship-plan\/\">Greenwood Forest WMA Forest Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/whiting-natural-resource-stewardship-plan-update\">Whiting WMA Natural Resource Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/weldon-brook-wma-forest-stewardship-plan\/\">Weldon Brook WMA Forest Stewardship Plan<\/a>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/forest-management-activities-at-weldon-brook-wma-to-benefit-imperiled-species\/\">Forest Management Activities At Weldon Brook WMA To Benefit Imperiled Species<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; 3\/17\/14<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bobwhite Quail Habitat Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/nj-northern-bobwhite-action-plan\/\">New Jersey Northern Bobwhite Action Plan<\/a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/quail_landowner_survey12.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2012 Quail Action Plan Landowner Survey Results<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 230kb)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/bobwhitebasics.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bobwhite Basics Brochure<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 1.0mb)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/njaudubon.org\/category\/bobwhite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northern Bobwhite Restoration Initiative<\/a>&nbsp;(NJAS)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bringbackbobwhites.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative<\/a>&nbsp;(NBCI site)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/bringbackbobwhites.org\/2016\/09\/22\/bobwhites-on-the-brink-examines-decline-restoration-effort-for-iconic-native-bird\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018Bobwhites on the Brink\u2019 Examines Decline, Restoration Effort for Iconic Native Bird<\/a>&nbsp;(NBCI site)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/nrcs\/detail\/national\/plantsanimals\/fishwildlife\/?cid=nrcseprd1299624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northern Bobwhite Projects<\/a>&nbsp;(USDA\/NRCS site)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/quail_calendar13.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2013 New Jersey Quail Calendar<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 9.5mb)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Pages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/habitat-management-for-grassland-birds\/\">Habitat Management for Grassland Birds<\/a>&nbsp;(2008)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/managing-grasslands-shrublands-and-young-forest-habitats-for-wildlifea-guide-for-the-northeast\/\">Managing Grasslands, Shrublands, and Young Forest Habitats for Wildlife<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jerseyyards.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jersey-Friendly Yards<\/a>&nbsp;(developed by the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/bbp.ocean.edu\/pages\/1.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barnegat Bay Partnership<\/a>&nbsp;with a grant from the NJ DEP)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wildlife\/new-jerseys-state-wildlife-action-plan\/\">NJ Wildlife Action Plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/new-jerseys-landscape-project\/\">Landscape Project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/nrcs\/main\/national\/programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NRCS Conservation Programs<\/a>&nbsp;(USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Site)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/programs-initiatives\/wre-wetland-reserve-easements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wetland Reserve Easements<\/a><br>   <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/programs-initiatives\/wrep-wetland-reserve-enhancement-partnership\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wetland Reserve Enhancement Parternship<\/a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/Restoring_Americas_Wetlands_NRCS.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Restoring America\u2019s Wetlands: A Private Lands Conservation Success Story<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 2.5mb)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=B4-wv-UwRYk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Troy Meadows Wetland &amp; Forest Enhancement<\/a>&nbsp;(YouTube video from&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/wildlifepreserves.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wildlife Preserves, Inc.<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/nwsg_establish.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Establishing Native Warm Season Grasses in New Jersey<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 220kb)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/nswg_truax_no_till_seeddrill.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">User&#8217;s Guide to the Truax\u2122 Flex II No-Till Seed Drill<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 170kb)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/nwsg_herbicide_guide.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Herbicide Guide for Establishing NWSG Stands<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf, 57kb)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/partners.fws.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Partners for Fish &amp; Wildlife<\/a>&nbsp;(US Fish and Wildlife Service)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/habitat_restoration_sign.jpg\" alt=\"Habitat Restoration Project Sign\" class=\"wp-image-1721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/habitat_restoration_sign.jpg 450w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/habitat_restoration_sign-300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disturbed Forest &#8211; The Forsaken Science of Healthy Forests&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;(Ruffed Grouse Society Video) Habitat is the key to wildlife&#8217;s survival, whether in the rain forests of South America or here in New Jersey. Quality habitat provides appropriate and sufficient food, water, shelter (or cover) and sufficient space for wildlife species. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife works [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":52,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1720","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1720"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65748,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1720\/revisions\/65748"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}