Volunteer to Help Replant the Villa Wildlife Management Area

The "Ponderlodge Golf Course" was purchased in February 2006 by New Jersey's Green Acres Program and is now known as Villas WMA. After being purchased, it was instantly prized by residents and outdoor enthusiasts for its size, location and recreational opportunities. Its location near the Cape May Peninsula gives it great potential value as a crucial habitat for migratory wildlife.

The 253-acre former golf course on the property has little habitat value to wildlife in its current state. The Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (CWF) are partnering to restore and improve wildlife habitat on the former golf course portion of the Villas WMA.

Last year CWF began restoration efforts by planting over 900 tree seedlings on a former fairway. This spring CWF needs volunteers to help plant more tree seedlings to reforest additional former fairways.

Planting will begin the week of March 29 and will continue until all the available seedlings are planted. If interested in volunteering or know of a large group that would be interested in volunteering to help plant trees please contact:   Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, ben.wurst@conservewildlifenj.org

The Ponderlodge Plan can be viewed at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ponderlodge_plan.htm

NJ Wildlife Management Areas   http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/wmaland.htm