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Trail Guides
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Nantuxent Wildlife Management Area
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9
 
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East Bay Point Road, Cedarville, NJ
Phone: (856) 984-0547
www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/wmas.htm
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
From Cedar Lake parking area, turn Left onto 553. After 0.1 miles, turn Right at the traffic light onto West Maple Ave. Continue for two miles (along the way the name of the road becomes Jones Island Rd.). Two miles after your turn onto Maple Ave., Bay Point Rd. (paved) curves sharply to the Right and opposite it, to
the Left, is an unmarked dirt road. Turn Left
onto this dirt road and follow it for 0.6 miles
to the end. Map
| | The northern end of Nantuxent WMA comprises dry mixed oak and pine
forests with adjoining farmlands and fields. Its southern end is wet, traversed by small guts
that drain into Nantuxent Creek and then to Delaware Bay, which is approximately one mile away from the WMA’s southern boundary. The roads in the WMA are unpaved and although bumpy in spots, they may be negotiated without a four-wheel drive vehicle. A single road leads south through the middle of the WMA through heavily overgrown marshlands on both sides.
The flora and fauna are typical of marshes in
this region.
Bald Eagle frequent perches along Nantuxent Creek to the south and while those perches are not visible from the parking area, the eagles are often seen soaring over the WMA. Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier are here throughout the winter. Clouds of Snow Geese are often seen rising from the bay-shore, often stirred up by a passing Bald Eagle.
The songs and calls of Red-winged Blackbird, Marsh Wren, frogs and toads signal the arrival of spring in the wetlands. Flocks of Snow Geese fly north to breeding areas in the Canadian Arctic. At the northern end of the WMA, migrating passerines arrive in their
nesting grounds. A variety of wood warblers
such as Ovenbird and Yellow-throated Warbler may be seen and heard together with Wood Thrush and Carolina Wren. Deer and small
mammals are active.
Black and Turkey Vultures soar overhead on thermals, sometimes in the company of Red-tailed Hawk and/or Bald Eagle. Osprey are numerous. At the north end of the WMA, look for Wild Turkey in the fields. Flies and mosquitoes are too numerous for the dragonflies to clear out, so bring bug spray.
The Snow Geese return, as many nesting songbirds and Osprey depart. The fall migration of raptors goes into full swing as various species pass overhead in accord with an age-old timetable. Be aware of hunting areas, dates
and times (see page 7).
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