From high ground nearby, George Washington’s troops watched the not-too-distant British in Manhattan. Nowadays, the skylines of Jersey City and Manhattan can be seen to the east, while Interstate 287 and the suburban towns of Bernardsville and Basking Ridge hum in the background.
Today, just as many natural wonders can be found at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary as were found in Washington’s time -- at any time of year. Wild Turkeys.Red-tailed and Cooper’s Hawks. Great Horned and Screech Owls. The breathtaking (there’s no other word for it) Pileated Woodpecker. Eastern Bluebirds start nesting in late March. Baltimore Orioles and Scarlet Tanagers and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return in early May. Hard-to-find breeding birds like Louisiana Waterthrush and Worm-eating Warbler can be found here, too. Waves of migrant birds pass through in April and May, and again in September and October, and a variety of sparrows, finches, wrens, kinglets, and Hermit Thrushes spend the colder months here, and can often be seen at the wellstocked feeders. Less common winter finches such as Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls return some years. Sixty species of birds breed at the sanctuary, and over 175 species have been seen here over the years.
In early spring Scherman Hoffman’s critical vernal pools are home to breeding Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers (tiny treefrogs) and big, logy Spotted Salamanders. The headwaters of the Passaic River here provide important habitat for the rare Wood Turtle, which is on New Jersey’s Threatened Species List. Box Turtles, whose population is also in decline, roam the grounds, along with several types of snakes, frogs, toads and salamanders. Almost thirty species of mammals have been seen at Scherman Hoffman, including Red Fox, Flying Squirrel, Coyote, shrews and moles and voles, Long-tailed Weasel and Mink.
Come watch the continuing experiment in the Deer Exclosure, where wildflowers, tree seedlings and shrubs are returning — on their own — after decades of overbrowsing
by deer. In summer and fall, the fields of little bluestem, switchgrass, thistles and snakeroots, milkweed, goldenrods and asters are some of the best places in north
Jersey to see poetically named butterflies like Great Spangled Fritillary, Northern Pearly Eye, and Wood Nymph. In good weather in late summer, Monarchs are seen here daily. The rare Harvester butterfly is often found in beech woods in midsummer. Birds; including the biggest woodpecker you’ll ever see. Mammals. Frogs and snakes and toads, turtles and salamanders. Red Foxes. And a river runs through it. Begin your child’s natural history education here, or begin or expand your own, year-round, at this natural jewel.
May Days on May 1 & 2, 2010 celebrates the Grand Opening of the Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education. But there is always something happening at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary. Check the website throughout the seasons for an updated schedule of events. http://bit.ly/cSchMM
Nature Store Hours are 9 am – 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 12 to 5 pm on Sunday. Trails ranging in length from 0.3 miles to 1.3 miles are open from dawn ‘till dusk. Admission is free for all.
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