King Tides Along the Jersey Shore

Flooding in Ocean City via njconservation.org/help-document-sunny-day-flooding

You may be hearing the term "king tides" recently on the news, connected to weather conditions. What are "king tides?" A king tide is a non-scientific term for the highest predicted high tide of the year at a coastal location. 

New Jersey is experiencing a major king tide window right now, and more are expected in the near future. New Jersey is currently in the middle of a predicted king tide window spanning October 27 to 28, 2026. Triggered by yesterday’s full moon converging with the Moon's closest approach to Earth, 8 out of 9 NOAA monitoring stations across the state are seeing their highest astronomically predicted tides.

What Causes King Tides?
Celestial alignment plays a role. These tides happen when the orbits and alignments of the Earth, Moon, and Sun combine to create maximum gravitational pull. They occur when the Moon is closest to Earth (called perigee) during a New or Full Moon.

Depending on the region, they often happen a few times a year during specific seasons, such as fall and winter. 

One common effect is called "sunny day flooding." The weather is fine, but these tides can push seawater over seawalls and up through storm drains onto streets even on clear, cloudless days with no storms. They also cause very low tides at alternate times of the day, which can expose marine life, sandbars, or shallow channels.

The absolute highest tide of this specific New Jersey window is occurring at Wildwood Crest, reaching an estimated 6.0 feet—which sits a notable 1.1 feet above normal high water levels (MHHW).

While high pressure is keeping skies mostly dry, the sheer gravitational force of this alignment is causing "sunny day" minor coastal flooding. Tidal waters are spilling onto the most vulnerable low-lying roads and bayside communities along the Jersey Shore during morning high tide cycles

King tides are called "king" because they represent the highest, most dominant natural high tides of the year. Just as a king sits at the top of a hierarchy, these tides tower above normal daily and monthly high tides, creating the largest tidal range (highest highs and lowest lows). 

NOAA's National Ocean Service would refer to them as perigean spring tides. Besides when the Moon is at perigee, they often occur during specific times of the year when the Earth is also closest to the Sun (perihelion) or when weather and warm water expansion add extra height.

What El Niño Could Mean for New Jersey This Winter

If you've been following weather news, you've probably heard about El Niño. But what exactly is it, and why does something happening thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean matter to people in New Jersey?

In simple terms, El Niño is a natural climate pattern that occurs when surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean become unusually warm. That extra warmth releases heat and moisture into the atmosphere, which can alter weather patterns across much of the globe. One of the main ways it does this is by shifting the jet stream, the fast-moving river of air high in the atmosphere that helps steer storms across North America. Because the jet stream influences where storms develop and travel, El Niño can have noticeable effects on winter weather in the eastern United States, including New Jersey.

While no two El Niño events are exactly alike, the pattern often increases the chances of a more active storm track along parts of the East Coast during the cooler months. For a state like New Jersey, that matters. With more than 130 miles of Atlantic coastline, extensive bays and estuaries, and densely populated coastal communities, New Jersey is especially vulnerable to flooding. 

Many residents - especially those away from the coast - think of flooding as something that happens only during hurricanes or major nor'easters, but increasingly, that's not the case. Even routine high tides can flood roads, neighborhoods, and businesses. As sea levels continue to rise, water needs less help from storms to reach places that once remained dry. A strong onshore wind, an unusually high tide, or a modest coastal storm can now produce impacts that would have been less likely decades ago.

El Niño itself is a natural phenomenon. However, it is occurring against the backdrop of a warming climate and rising sea levels. That means that El Niño may enhance the likelihood of stormy periods and persistent onshore winds, while higher sea levels mean that even minor coastal flooding events can become more disruptive. Communities along the Jersey Shore, as well as areas bordering tidal rivers and bays, are already experiencing more frequent nuisance flooding. When higher tides coincide with storms or strong winds, the impacts can be amplified.

Some of New Jersey's best flood protection already exists in nature in the form of wetlands, marshes, forests, and other undeveloped landscapes that help absorb and slow floodwaters. Wetlands act like giant natural sponges, temporarily storing water during heavy rainfall and coastal flooding before gradually releasing it back into the environment.

Protecting upland forests and open spaces is equally important. When land is covered by pavement, rooftops, and parking lots, rainfall cannot soak into the ground. Instead, it runs quickly into streams, rivers, and storm drains, increasing flood risks downstream. Investments in land conservation, wetland restoration, green infrastructure, and strategic flood-resilience programs can help communities adapt to both today's flood risks and tomorrow's changing climate.

So, what can New Jersey expect in the coming months? A seasonal forecast can't predict exactly what will happen on a particular day or month or whether any specific storm will strike New Jersey, but El Niño is expected to remain a significant influence through the winter months. That means greater potential for an active storm pattern during the cool season. There will also be an elevated risk of coastal flooding, particularly during periods of strong onshore winds and high tides. There will be increased vulnerability in low-lying coastal and tidal communities and the possibility that even moderate storms could produce outsized flooding impacts.

Foxy New Jersey

Red fox - photo by Gary Lehman www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/

It is not at all uncommon for you to see a fox in a rural or suburban setting, but foxes in New Jersey are still rare enough to give most of us a surprise and thrill.

It is not positively known if the red fox (Vulpe s vulpes) was native to New Jersey. If the species was native, the numbers were few. It is thought that some or all of this species may have been introduced by colonists from England for the purpose of hunting with horses and hounds.

English foxes were introduced to the Colonies in Virginia and the Long Island area and eventually crossed into mainland New York State and into New Jersey. The native gray fox was not seen as "sporting" enough, as it treed rather than ran or ran in a much smaller area than the red fox.

In New Jersey, there are two species you might see. The red fox and the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). The gray fox is known to be native to the state.

Both species are present throughout the state and are also classified as game species with hunting and trapping seasons.

For both species, male foxes are called "dogs" and females are known as "vixens".

Generally speaking, neither species pose a threat to people, but like all wildlife species should never be approached or fed. Fox are well known for their threat to small domestic animals, and are well-deserving of their reputation for intelligence. They are highly adaptable and can be found living in close proximity to people and in developed areas.

The pointed ears, slender muzzle, and slanted eyes, bushy and unusually long tail, coupled with its small dog size and typical orange-red coloration, make the red fox instantly recognizable to most observers.

The exact breeding period for red foxes is January-February in the central regions, which includes New Jersey. Litter size may vary from one to as many as fourteen pups, with an average of about five. The family group remains together until the autumn after the birth, when the young will disperse. Sexual maturity is reached by 10 months for both male and female young.

Red foxes can weigh from about 8 to 15 pounds, but in New Jersey will generally weigh about 12 to 13 pounds for a large, adult male. Males average about 2 pounds heavier than females. Generally, adult foxes measure 39 to 43 inches from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. In their first autumn, juveniles are as large as adults.

Other than when raising young and during breeding season, the red fox is a solitary animal and does not form a pack like wolves.

Family groups and/or individuals use a main earthen den in conjunction with other emergency burrows within their home range. Foxes often take over and utilize dens of other animals, such as woodchucks. The dens may be enlarged during the winter and prior to birth and rearing of the young. Several generations of foxes will often use the same den site.

Red foxes are strictly terrestrial and rarely enter water. Red foxes most often hunt and move about during evening, nighttime, and early morning hours.

Being a nonspecific predator, the red fox utilizes a variety of food types and prey. It is also a very efficient scavenger, and garbage and carrion can be important to the fox's diet. Throughout much of the year, however, meadow voles are the major prey, making up about one half of the red fox's diet. Other rodents are also eaten whenever available.

In northeastern North America, depending on season and location, woodchucks, eastern cottontails (and snowshoe hares where they are present) may also be preferred. Gamebirds such as bobwhite, ring-necked pheasants, and ruffed grouse are seasonally utilized as well as any ground-nesting birds and/or their eggs and young during spring and early summer. During late summer and autumn, fruits, berries, and insects may be eaten.

The Gray Fox is common in New Jersey as well as many parts of the United States where deciduous woodlands provide habitat. But it is a seldom-seen, secretive carnivore.

Habitats for gray fox include wooded, brushy, and rocky areas. Although they are occasionally seen in old fields and farm country, they do not prefer agricultural habitats, unlike the red fox.

Gray Fox

Like most foxes, gray foxes resemble small, slightly built dogs with bushy tails. The general coloration of a gray fox is a strikingly beautiful grizzled gray that appears on the face, sides, and tail. Portions of the legs and lower sides, as well as large areas of the neck, ears, and bottom portion of the tail, are a rusty, reddish color with white areas on the chin, belly, and insides of the legs.

Adult gray foxes weigh from about 6.5 to 15 pounds, though a large male will weigh somewhere around 11 to 12 pounds, and males will be slightly larger than females.

Gray foxes have a capability unique for a member of the dog family — their ability to climb trees. Their strong, hooked claws allow them to scramble up trees to avoid predators and to obtain fruit. They descend primarily by jumping from branch to branch. Gray foxes are nocturnal or crepuscular and they usually remain denned during the day in hollow trees, stumps or old woodchuck burrows.

The gray fox is generally a solitary hunter, but it may hunt as a pair, usually with a mate or offspring. They eat a wide variety of food types. The most important food source for the gray fox may be the cottontail but voles, field mice, shrews, and birds are readily eaten. The gray fox generally supplements its diet with whatever fruits are in season, generally utilizing more vegetable matter than the red fox.

Foxes will prey on small livestock such as ducks, chickens, rabbits, and young lambs, but generally do not bother larger livestock. Cats may also be preyed on. Foxes often carry their prey to a secluded area or their den where it is eaten by the adults and young.

Human presence is often a deterrent to foxes. Foxes that travel into residential yards should be harassed or scared with loud noises to prevent them from becoming habituated. Foxes, especially red foxes, commonly live in close association with human residences and communities. They frequently inhabit yards, parks, and golf courses, especially areas that adjoin suitable, undeveloped habitat. Healthy foxes pose virtually no danger to humans. Foxes can grow accustomed to human activity but are seldom aggressive toward people. Expanding housing development, particularly in historically rural areas, increases the chances of interactions between humans and foxes, as well as other wildlife.

Bog Turtle Survival

The bog turtle is North America's smallest turtle, and populations persist in depleted, isolated groups from New England to Georgia. New Jersey is one of its remaining strongholds. The species is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened with extinction, and it remains illegal to kill or damage an individual threatened or endangered animal.

The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is the official state reptile of New Jersey and the smallest turtle in North America, growing to only 3 to 4.5 inches in length.

Bog turtles depend on specialized wetlands. During summer heat, they require the soft muck of spring-fed fens, bogs, wet meadows, and wet pastures; in cooler weather, they need open, sunny areas for basking. Much of this habitat has already been destroyed by wetland drainage, livestock grazing, land clearing, and invasive plants that displace native vegetation. About 90 percent of the remaining habitat is privately owned, making landowner cooperation essential to the species' recovery.

For roughly half a century, the ESA's definition of "harm" has included not only directly killing or injuring protected species but also the significant modification or degradation of their critical habitat. This protection, along with federally required recovery plans, helped prevent extinction of an estimated 99 percent of threatened and endangered organisms. 

Two programs have been particularly important to bog turtle conservation. Safe Harbor encourages landowners to restore and maintain habitat by guaranteeing that they will not face additional ESA restrictions if bog turtles increase on their property. Working Lands for Wildlife provides Farm Bill funding and guidance from federal biologists while protecting landowners from penalties if a turtle is accidentally killed or harmed during routine farming, forestry, or road work.

Appearance: Dark mahogany or black shell with bright, distinct yellow, orange, or red blotches on each side of the head. Listed as endangered in New Jersey (since 1973) and threatened federally under the Endangered Species Act. 

New Jersey houses over 50% of the Northeast's population. They are primarily found in rural and isolated colonies across northern, central, and southwestern counties. The largest remaining populations thrive within the Wallkill and Paulinskill River Watersheds in the northwest, as well as areas in Salem County in the southwest. Most active conservation and priority sites are located in Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, and Salem counties.The ideal habitat is shallow, unpolluted, spring-fed mucky wetlands, wet meadows, and bogs with slow-moving water and open sunlight for basking. 

Bog turtle diet is omnivorous, feeding on seeds, berries, worms, slugs, and small invertebrates. 

If habitat is protected, they are highly resilient and long-lived, averaging 20 to 30 years, with some living past 60 years in the wild

A Threat to Bog Turtles

On September 14, 2025, the Trump administration began enforcing a rule that removes habitat degradation from the ESA's definition of "harm." The administration's Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, has described the change as "common sense." Critics argue that it effectively allows habitat essential to threatened and endangered species to be destroyed even while individual animals remain legally protected.

The National Parks Conservation Association's Bart Melton said the rule "defies common sense" and warned that it could enable mining, oil and gas drilling, logging, and development in areas critical to vulnerable species. Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles called the rule a violation of the ESA's core purpose and decades of legal precedent, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, compared removing habitat protections from the ESA to removing anti-discrimination provisions from the Civil Rights Act, arguing that it leaves the law's central protection hollow.

The administration proposed the rule on April 17, 2025, and received nearly 360,000 public comments. Although the administration has not disclosed how many opposed the proposal, an Earthjustice analysis found that approximately 99 percent of the comments were negative. The Administrative Procedure Act requires federal agencies to consider public comments and provide a rational, evidence-based explanation for their final rules; critics contend that the Trump administration has repeatedly failed to meet that requirement.

Next?

Multiple lawsuits challenging the rule are underway. If it remains in effect, habitat protection for ESA-listed species could effectively be eliminated. Existing Safe Harbor and Working Lands for Wildlife agreements could lose their incentive for landowners, and landowners could have little reason to enter new agreements. For bog turtles, whose remaining habitat is already scarce and overwhelmingly privately owned, the consequences could be especially serious.

The habitat protections must be restored so that the ESA continues to protect not only individual threatened and endangered animals but also the habitat they need to survive. The federal government must continue requiring recovery plans, supporting landowners through Safe Harbor and Working Lands for Wildlife, and providing funding and scientific guidance for habitat restoration.

The lawsuits challenging the rule will determine whether the habitat-protection change remains in effect. Protecting and restoring bog turtle wetlands will also require continued cooperation from the private landowners who control most of the species' remaining habitat.

New Jersey Bog Turtle Project

Bog Turtle Information at Conserve Wildlife