"We have something very special here in Cape May Couhty. Where else can you find 600 different kinds of animals? It is a good place * for them to live

[by Jack Chielli We live in an area inhabitated by many different : kinds of feathered and furry friends. Some are worse off because of it. .People continue to exploit animals for their own means. So>ne animals fall prey to the development of tKeir habitat; others to the valve of their hides, and still others To plan brutality. All inhabitants of the world live with the dangers of the natural elements, but this’ is rarely the means by which ' an anintal reaches the point of extinction. More often than not, the cause-is man’s inability to respect the right of all animals to live and flurish. THE JERSEY CAPE is perfect ly suited Jo be home for a diversity of wildlife. Even though some are on the list of endangered

species, a variety of animals continue to flourish and can be observed in their natural habitat from various vantage points on the Cape. "We have something very special here in Cape May County,” says Anne Galli. "Where else can you find 600 different kinds of animals? It is a good place for them to live," the assistant director of the Wetlands Institute noted during a recent lectura at the institute. “The diversity of wildlife attracts-many people to Cape May," she pointed

out.

IN HIGHLIGHTING some of the rare and endangered species — like the Pine Barren’s tree frog and the Cape May osprey — Galli spoke with compassion of the importance in understanding the inter-relations between man and

RUFFLED MOTHER looks on as the late Joseph Jacobs bands young osprey at Townsend Inlet during the summer of ’76. The osprey is orte of more than J50 species of birds on the Jersey Cape and is on the list of endangered species in New Jersey. The habitat guide is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Jacobs, who died in 1977 at the age of 60. For 35 years he was committed — as naturalist, conservationist and bird bander — to the wildlife of this peninsula. i

wildlife: "We wantjo share with people some of the interesting animals and hope that our efforts will increase the pleasure they derive from watching wildlife." The lecture included slide photographs from the Institute’s newest publications, The Wildlife of Cape May County, New Jersey/A Habitat Guide to the Vertebrate Fauna. IJ was written by Joseph L. Lomax, Joan M. Galli and Anne Gall. The Habitat Guide identifies hundreds of different species and includes 60 photographs all taken by Lomax. Galli explained the book makes it easy for people to find where certain types of wildlife can be located so that they can explore ,r*fpr themselves. The 100-page publication is available for purchase at the Institute. THE LIST OF endangered species for Cape May County' includes the least turn and black skimmer, red throated loon, nor thern pipefish and sea turtles. The least turn and black skimmer share a common nesting habitat, which is the open sand. Both birds suffer from the common problems of being discovered by natural preditors and curious people. “On the beach at Stone Harbor Point we put up no trespassing signs, but still people let their dogs run through the nesting area,” Galli

explained.

Pointing out that, the most threatening situation occurs to animals when they lose their natural habitat, Galli continued, "this is usually a direct result of pollution from dredging and dum ping or development of the land " IN CASE YOU haven’t noticed turtle signs have been posted on the causeways between the mainland and Stone Harbor and Avalon to alert motorists of the frequent crossing of the diamond back terrapin. The terrapin is usually encountered in early summer when it crosses the roads and highways to reach high ground for egg laying. It is often hit by cars 1 before it gels to the other side of the road Many times, drivers veer to hit - not avoid the

creatures.

If the terrapin is lucky enough to make it through its dangerous odyssey, in 60-90 days the eggs hatch "Because they are such beautiful turtles,, people often try ot take them home as pets. But on Ihf cover ■■ ■

PINE BARRENS Treefrog is among at least three Pinelands specieXTound in Cape May County. The PB Treefrog, another endangered species, is indicative of the southern extCnl of the pineland habitats in the Garden State: it has been documented breeding as far south as Middlc Tovynship. they art; very hard to keqp." Galli warned. SOME ANIMALS such as the bull frog and the spotted turtle adapt very well to new enyirOnmenis Galli sited the gravel pits in Dennisville as, a good example The excavation has created fresh water ponds "If you go out there on a rainy night and just listen to all the sounds, you can pick out many different types of frogs,” she said One of the strange inhabitants of our coastal waters is the seahorse. It is a vcr., .dd looking fish with feather-like tins It is also the only fish where the male carries and giVes birth to the eggs. The Slohe Harbor Bird Sanctuary is a good place to watch birds. In existence for 34 years, it is one of only two municipally owned sanctuaries in the world. The other is in Tokyo, Japan Galli suggests watching the birds in the evening because they can be seen coming back to their nests at different times. “In the morn-

A snowy cRrcl a.t Townsends Inlet rookery (nesting place) by Joseph I.. I jiinax. This photo is also on the front . cover of the habitat guide. All photos by l^imax.

fir' -RACCOONS arc* common representatives of the Class Mammalia on the Jersey Cape. This .disparate class also includes mTdes, bats and whales. CAPE MAY COUNTY MAGA/INI J