Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) laying eggs at Ridge and Valley Conservancy’s Gnome Hollow Preserve in June 2025. This ancient reptile plays a key role in wetland ecosystems and nesting behaviors like this are vital for maintaining local populations.

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) observed at Ridge and Valley Conservancy’s Gnome Hollow Preserve in June 2025. Known for its distinctive dark mask and spring breeding calls, this amphibian is a vital indicator of healthy wetland and forest ecosystems.

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) photographed at Ridge and Valley Conservancy’s Gnome Hollow Preserve in June 2025. This common amphibian thrives in moist forest habitats and contributes to controlling insect populations, making it an important part of local ecosystems.

Barred Owl (Strix varia) captured on a trail camera at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This nocturnal bird of prey is known for its distinctive call and plays a crucial role in controlling small mammals and maintaining forest ecosystem balance.

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) gazing into a trail camera at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This curious and stealthy predator helps regulate prey populations and maintain healthy forest ecosystems in New Jersey.

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) captured on a trail camera at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This solitary and elusive wildcat is a top predator, playing a vital role in maintaining balanced ecosystems in New Jersey’s forests.

Three bobcats (Lynx rufus) captured together on a trail camera at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. These elusive wildcats are important predators that help maintain healthy ecosystems by controlling deer and small mammal populations.

Coyote (Canis latrans) captured on a trail camera at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This adaptable predator plays a crucial role in controlling small mammal populations and maintaining balance in local ecosystems.

Unidentified hawk taking flight caught on a trail camera at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. Birds of prey like this hawk are vital indicators of ecosystem health, helping to control rodent populations and maintain natural balance in New Jersey’s forests and fields.

Eastern Redbacked Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) found under leaf litter at Ridge and Valley Conservancy’s Millbrook Seeps Preserve in 2025. This lungless woodland salamander is a key indicator of healthy forest ecosystems and relies on moist, undisturbed habitats to thrive.

Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) with vibrant reddish-orange skin and dark spots, discovered at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This secretive amphibian is a sign of clean, cool water and healthy forest ecosystems.

Adult Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) in its brown, aquatic stage observed at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve in 2025. This native amphibian plays an important role in wetland ecosystems and reflects high water quality in protected habitats.

Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) foraging in a field at the edge of a forest at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. Wild turkeys are highly social birds, often seen in flocks, especially outside of the breeding season. They are excellent foragers, feeding on a varied diet that includes seeds, nuts, insects, and small amphibians. They play an important role in forest ecosystems by helping to control insect populations and dispersing seeds.

Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) in its bright juvenile “eft” stage, found at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve in 2025. This colorful amphibian thrives in healthy, undisturbed forest habitats and is a key indicator of environmental quality.

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) spotted near a forested trail at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. As a keystone species, black bears contribute to healthy ecosystems by dispersing seeds and maintaining balance in the food web.

Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) with large eye spots and soft brown wings resting on vegetation at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This striking native silk moth is part of the Saturniidae family and plays a role in local biodiversity and nocturnal pollination.

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) basking on a sunlit trail at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This common, non-venomous snake plays a vital role in local ecosystems by helping control insect and amphibian populations.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus) feeding on native wild thistle and milkweed at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. These native plants provide essential nectar sources for pollinators, supporting biodiversity in New Jersey’s meadow habitats.

Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) blooming in spring at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This native wildflower attracts hummingbirds and adds vibrant red and yellow color to forest edges and rocky slopes.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blooming in early spring at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This native wildflower is known for its delicate white petals and vibrant orange-red sap, and it supports early-season pollinators in forest ecosystems.

Pink Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium acaule) in bloom at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This rare native wildflower thrives in acidic forest soils and relies on a unique relationship with soil fungi to grow and reproduce.

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) and emerging Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) growing side by side at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve in early spring. These native plants are among the first to bloom, supporting pollinators and signaling a healthy, thriving wetland ecosystem.

Penstemon flower (Penstemon spp.) in full bloom at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This native perennial, also known as beardtongue, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, supporting pollinator health in meadow and woodland edge habitats.

Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) growing on a decaying hemlock tree at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This glossy, reddish-brown bracket fungus is native to eastern forests and contributes to decomposition and forest regeneration by breaking down wood fibers.

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) blooming in early spring at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This delicate native wildflower, named for its pantaloon-shaped white blossoms, thrives in rich woodland soils and supports early-emerging pollinators like bumblebees.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) growing on a decaying tree at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This bright orange-yellow bracket fungus is a native decomposer species, playing a vital role in forest nutrient cycling and ecosystem health.

Wild Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens) blooming along a shaded forest floor at a Ridge and Valley ConservancyPreserve. This native woodland violet adds early-season color and supports native pollinators in healthy, undisturbed forest ecosystems.

Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) emerging from the leaf litter at a Ridge and Valley Conservancy Preserve. This unusual, white wildflower does not photosynthesize, instead, it obtains nutrients through a unique relationship with mycorrhizal fungi and tree roots, making it a fascinating indicator of mature, undisturbed forests.

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) at a Ride and Valley Conservancy Preserve. Large, umbrella-shaped green leaves and a single white flower beneath the foliage. The plant thrives in early spring forest understories across North America, signaling the start of the growing season.

Praying mantis (Tenodera or Stagmomantis) egg case seen at one of Ridge and Valley Conservancy’s Preserves. Called an ootheca, it’s a tan, foam-like pod that protects hundreds of eggs through the winter until they hatch in spring. These cases are commonly found on twigs and stems in fields and forest edges across New Jersey. They are a sign of healthy ecosystems and serve as a natural form of pest control.