YOUR QUESTIONS, OUR ANSWERS

On this page we will post some visitor questions about our web site and its content. We are also interested in information about how our site is being used in classrooms (especially in New Jersey!) If your question is of general interest we will post it here and incorporate answers into our site content.
Submit your teaching ideas for our Teacher Page
Let us know about endangered species in your part of the world
Tell us what you would like to see added to our site.

E-mail us


I am currently doing a research project on the animal life in the Newark/Elizabeth seaport area, what kind of info do you have on this?

Two good sources should be the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission's Environment Center (201-460-8300)  http://www.hmdc.state.nj.us/ec/environment_center.html  and Liberty State Park (201-915-3409)


I am a student teacher from The College of New Jersey, teaching at Grant Elementary School in Trenton, NJ.  I am creating a 2 week unit on endangered species for a fifth grade class.  The information you have provided has given me quite a few good ideas for ways to incorporate other subjects into my science based unit.   If you know of any Wildlife Conservation areas in the Mercer County area, please let me know.   Thank you for some great ideas!!!      Patty

In Mercer County we would suggest:
Baldwin lake WMA
Delaware & Raritan State park
Van Nest WMA
Amwell lake WMA
Washington Crossing Park
Stony Brook -Millstone Watershed Assoc. Reserve
Hamilton-Trenton Marsh Viewing Areas -- this area, just as an example, is a freshwater
tidal marsh, there are 2 public accesses - I'm not sure about endangered species there but
there are plenty of others to view. Their Marsh Hotline is  609 452 0525

We'd love to hear about any projects you involve your classes in that concern NJ
Wildlife.  Try the NJ Wildlife Viewing Guide and check the links page on our site too


I am doing a project for school on the Red-Shouldered hawk.  There is one piece of
information that I am having trouble finding.  I need to know what the current status for New
Jersey is and also when it was put on our state list.  I also need to know what the numbers
were when it was put on the list.              Sincerely, Alex C.

The information you requested has been added to the listing at 
http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5736/birds.htm#RED SHOULDERED HAWK


Hi.  I'm doing a report on the Timber Rattlesnake. I just would like to know where in New Jersey do they live?  Please respond. Thanks for taking time to read my email.      ~Tyshan

The complex of ridges and valleys in and adjacent to Sterling Forest is one of the more important areas, with 10 known den sites, for timber rattlesnake in the Highlands and in the region. Rare
wetland communities occur at Little Cedar Pond within Sterling Forest. Sterling Forest is also a headwater area for several water supplies.

Where can I find information about the NJ Pine Barrens wildlife?

TRY THIS STATE SITE       http://www.state.nj.us/pinelands/pinecur/ddv.htm

Are there any videos or teaching materials available for teachers in NJ to use?

YES - CONTACT THE ENSP at 609-292-9400 or at: I&E Films, NJ Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife, CN 400, Trenton, NJ, 08625-0400 AND ASK FOR THEIR LIST & ORDER FORM
 
Your site looks like a great source of information for kids and other folks in New Jersey to learn about endangered species. Thanks for putting it together. I'd like to suggest a couple more links for your web site, and more ideas for the "What You Can Do" section. I work for GREEN, the GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network, which is closely aligned with the Endangered Species Coalition. The Endangered Species Coalition represents more than 350 conservation, scientific, business, and religious organizations who support stronger protections for our nation's imperiled wildlife. One of the goals of the Coalition is to strengthen the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and assure its proper implementation. As I'm sure you know, the ESA is our nation's most important tool for protecting our natural heritage. The Endangered Species Coalition's web site could be a great link to your site. The address is: www.stopextinction.org Included in the web site are many suggestions for citizens to get involved politically to protect the ESA. I'm sure you recognize how critical political action is for protecting threatened and endangered species, so I hope you'll consider adding some of the letter-writing and other action ideas to your "What You Can Do" web page. Thank you for your time, and good luck with your web site project. If you have any questions about the Endangered Species Coalition, you can contact Eric Wingerter at (202) 682-9400 x236 or me, Melanie Mayock, at (202) 682-9400 x290.

Melanie Mayock, Northeast State Organizer, GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network, 1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1400 , Washington, DC 20005, (202) 682-9400 x290, (202) 682-1331 (fax) --- www.defenders.org/grnhome.html

THANKS - WE HAVE ADDED THE LINKS TO OUR SITE.
I was impressed with the up to date endangered/ threatened species listing. However, I was interested why there was not listings for plants. Recently, while hiking, I observed some ladyslipper plants. Would you happen to know the status of ladyslippers and other plants of New Jersey?  Patrick S.
THE FOCUS OF OUR SITE IS ANIMAL SPECIES ONLY, BUT HERE IS A LINK TO THE Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers - they  represent the largest ongoing effort in the western hemisphere to gather standardized data on endangered plants, animals, and ecosystems. For a county by county breakdown of N.J. plants & animals, click here  The Cypripedium acaule (Pink Ladyslipper) Cypripedium calceolus (Yellow Ladyslipper) is listed as "unusual" but not federally endangered or listed by NJ. U
Also try     http://eelink.net/EndSpp.old.bak/NE.p.html
Wouldn't it be great to hear sounds of the whales as we are reading about them? Just a thought!
Good Luck, Michael & Kimberly Chimento

GREAT IDEA - CHECK OUT THE LINK ON OUR MAMMALS PAGE.
Great Work Guys! Congratulations on your award. How timely it was for me. My sister had just called me frantically having spent hours with librarians trying to amass information about endangered species for a Scout project - that night I read your article in the Star Ledger! Your web site helped immensely with this project, thanks. I do have one concern that plagues the industry I am involved in - the bad rap that helium balloons get... I work for Pioneer Balloon Company, the largest manufacturer of balloons in the world. Our latex balloons are made of natural rubber and are completely biodegradable. Given the same circumstances of an oak leaf, they will decompose at the same rate of speed. I know this seems like a small issue, and I certainly don't mean to take away from your wonderful work - your web page is amazing. Just sticking up for my product! Continued success! Bindy Kase, CBA (Certified Balloon Artist)

IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MYLAR (SHINY) BALLOONS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS, BUT THAT ANY BALLOON CAN BE A HAZARD SINCE IT WOULD NOT BIODEGRADE FAST ENOUGH ON THE OCEAN'S SURFACE TO PREVENT IT FROM LOOKING LIKE FOOD TO SOME SPECIES. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOUR COMPANY COULD GET INVOLVED IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ABOUT MARINE SPECIES & BALLOONS!!