Discover New Jersey’s Natural Beauty at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

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The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a terrific place to spend time observing plants and wildlife and learning about the environment in New Jersey. The Refuge is an important preservation area that is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It consists of nearly 7,700 acres of which 3,660 acres are Wilderness areas.

Despite its name, there are actually several different habitat areas contained within Great Swamp. In addition to brush-covered swamps, grassy meadows and dry woods, ponds, streams and cattail marshes support plants and wildlife here.

Birding is a popular recreational activity you can enjoy at Great Swamp, and there are two bird blinds located here. More than 240 species of birds have been spotted within and around the Refuge, including many migratory species.

Swans, ducks, owls and herons are some of the birds you can see at Great Swamp. Several species of sandpipers, gulls, hawks and woodpeckers can be spotted, and you might even see a Golden Eagle at the Refuge. You can obtain a listing of Great Swamp birds online at the Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge website, FriendsofGreatSwamp.org.

Visitors can view and photograph a variety of mammals within the public areas of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. You can see animals on walks along Great Swamp’s nine miles of foot trails, or from the wildlife overlook. It is also possible to see wildlife from your vehicle on Pleasant Plains Road at Great Swamp. The best times to view wildlife are in the early morning and late afternoon hours.

White-tailed deer, gray squirrels, woodchucks and cottontail rabbits are commonly seen at Great Swamp.  You may also see raccoons, skunks and opossums. Beavers, muskrats and river otters can be spotted near Refuge water areas at times, and you may see coyotes or red foxes here, as well.

Although you may not spot them as readily as you can birds and mammals, a variety of reptiles, fish and amphibians also reside at Great Swamp. Careful observers may see snakes, frogs and turtles here. The endangered blue-spotted salamander and threatened bog turtle are two very special residents of the Refuge.

Visitors have an opportunity to view interesting plants and trees at Great Swamp in addition to animals. You can see wildflowers, ferns, aquatic plants, grasses, sedges and many different types of trees and shrubs at the Refuge.

The Wildlife Management Area in the western half of the Refuge is intensively managed. With the exception of Pleasant Plains Road and the Wildlife Observations Center, public access to this area is prohibited.  Within the eastern Wilderness Area that is highly accessible to the public, fishing and camping are prohibited.  It is very important that visitors not collect, disturb or destroy plants or wildlife at Great Swamp.