New Jersey's One Rattlesnake

With warmer weather, many of us are more likely to be out walking in rural and forested areas of our state. Like many people, I'm a bit wary of snakes, but I know about their importance in the ecosystem. That fear is almost always tied to a lack of knowledge about them and an inability to differentiate between the poisonous ones and the non-poisonous ones. So, it troubles me to see headlines like 4 Rattlesnake Hotspots In New Jersey "Hotspot" hints at a place where they are slithering all around, and that is not reality.  

There are 23 snakes that have made New Jersey their home. New Jersey has only two venomous snakes - the Northern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake. 

The Timber Rattlesnake, also called the Canebrake Rattlesnake, can reach 60 inches (152 cm) in length and weigh up to 1,500 grams. They have keeled scales with dark brown to black crossbands on a yellow-brown to gray background and a characteristic rattle on the tail. A Timber rattlesnake's color varies and can be characterized by either a yellow or black phase of keeled scales.

Timber rattlesnake Photo by Kris Schantz via state.nj.us/dep/

The yellow phase coloring means the ground color is yellow to brown, featuring dark brown or black jagged “V-shape” blotches and bands towards the snake's head. The black phase coloring features a similar pattern to the yellow phase; however, the dark brown to black color obscures most of the snake's pattern. In both instances, the snake's head remains unmarked, and the last few inches of the tail are dark brown or solid black in adults. Additionally, sometimes Timber rattlesnakes may be completely black.

While potentially the most dangerous snake in New Jersey due to size and venom yield, they are generally mild-mannered and give warning signals before striking. There have been no reported instances of bites other than by those handling the snakes (which is not recommended unless you're a trained snake handler). However, that doesn’t mean these snakes aren’t dangerous. If threatened, they will defend themselves, so always keep a safe distance.

Timber Rattlesnakes are ambush predators, feeding on small mammals, frogs, birds, and other snakes. They are found in lowland thickets, river floodplains, agricultural areas, and deciduous or coniferous forests. 

This snake is a state-endangered species, with only three timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) populations remaining. These remaining populations include New Jersey's northern region along the Kittatinny Ridge, southern New Jersey within the Pine Barrens, and the Highlands region.

Download an illustrated Snakes of New Jersey brochure

sample page from brochure

Essential Pollinators

 

After last week's spring and summerish weather, you might be seeing more pollinators in your neighborhood. 

Pollinators — including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and moths — are essential to New Jersey’s food, gardens, and natural areas: roughly one out of every three bites of food depends on animal pollination, and local programs from Rutgers and Jersey‑Friendly Yards offer practical, region‑specific ways to help. 

Pollinators transfer pollen that enables plants to produce fruits, seeds, and nuts. This service supports about one‑third of global food production and underpins many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds that make diets nutritious. 

In the United States, insect pollination was valued at tens of billions of dollars, reflecting the economic importance of these species to agriculture and local farms. New Jersey crops that rely on pollinators include blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, and peppers. Native bees and honey bees both contribute to these yields. 

Native plantings and small habitat patches in yards, parks, and roadsides make a measurable difference because many pollinators are short‑ranged and depend on continuous floral resources. 

Primary threats to pollinators are habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease and parasites, and climate change. Populations of many pollinator species have declined in recent decades, which can reduce crop yields and the availability of nutrient‑rich foods. 

What are some practical actions for New Jersey residents?

1. Plant native species that bloom from early spring through fall to provide continuous nectar and pollen. Rutgers and Jersey‑Friendly Yards offer region‑specific plant lists and planting guides. 
2. Cluster plantings and include host plants for caterpillars (e.g., milkweed for monarchs) to support both adult pollinators and larvae. 
3. Reduce or eliminate pesticide use and adopt integrated pest management; when treatment is necessary, apply at night and avoid bloom periods. 
4. Provide nesting and water resources: leave some bare ground for ground‑nesting bees, retain dead wood for cavity nesters, and offer shallow water sources. 
5. Replacing lawns with native plantings reduces mowing and chemical use but may require initial investment and maintenance. Expect some leaf or caterpillar feeding on host plants; this is normal and supports butterfly life cycles.

Jersey‑Friendly Yards provides planting guides and local tips for New Jersey homeowners. 

Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers county‑level guidance, native plant lists, and Master Gardener programs. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Jersey Field Office publishes recommended native plant lists for pollinators and habitat restoration guidance. 

See a list (pdf) of Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects for our Mid-Atlantic Region

Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area

The Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area is a 3,461-acre landscape in Morris and Sussex counties. The site is part of a large tract of the Sparta Mountain Greenway that extends along the westernmost ridge of the New Jersey Highlands. 

The WMA is adjacent to the Newark Watershed Property, the Pequannock Watershed, and the Hamburg WMA, and is located within the Highlands Preservation Area. 

In 2009, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife partnered with New Jersey Audubon to create and implement a Forest Stewardship Plan at Sparta Mountain WMA with two primary goals: to manage aging portions of the forest providing essential habitat for species like the red-shouldered hawk and barred owl, and to create openings in the canopy allowing light to reach the ground, triggering new growth of oaks, blackberries and native grasses. This successful management has provided more diverse habitats and a greater variety of wildlife species.

Sparta Mountain WMA is one of the rare places in New Jersey where you might spot the state's endangered golden-winged warbler, a tiny, vibrant bird that serves as an "umbrella species". By creating the young forest it needs to survive, we are also helping at least 30 other declining species, including the Baltimore oriole, Canada warbler, scarlet tanager, and indigo bunting. Also commonly seen here are the mysterious whip-poor-will, as well as red-shouldered hawks and barred owls, which have benefited from the hunting areas created by the new growth following the forest management work. A variety of other species inhabit the WMA, including turtles, black bears and bobcats.

Ryker Lake can be found within the WMA. The lake was previously managed under special Conservation Regulations for bass, sunfish and yellow perch. These regulations were recently changed for 2026, and the lake is now managed under General Regulations for all species.  Pickerel, crappie and catfish can also be caught. It features a car-top boat launch, and propulsion at the lake is by paddle or electric motor only.

The Sparta Mountain WMA is open for deer, small game, turkey, and waterfowl hunting. Deer hunting in DMZ 6 is excellent, especially in forested areas where turkeys also flock in great numbers in THA 7 due to mast production from the trees. The WMA is also open for trapping. 

NJDEP| Fish & Wildlife | WMA Highlight - Sparta Mountain

Owned by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Area System is comprised of more than 360,000 acres in 122 areas throughout the state, which is more than 44% of New Jersey’s state-owned public open space. WMAs are maintained and supported with funding from hunting and fishing license sales, the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program.

Essex County Cherry Blossom Time