The Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area in Cape May County is composed of 1,160 acres and is being managed for its value to endangered, threatened and nongame wildlife. The Cape May peninsula hosts one of the world’s largest migrations each fall as millions of birds stop at the peninsula seeking food, cover and water.
Higbee Beach WMA features 1.5 miles of pristine shoreline and offers a unique blend of several different habitats, including dune, forest, scrub and early successional fields. No more than 30 yards at its widest, the beach builds during the summer due to tidal action and erodes in winter during storms. Hunting is allowed, but not until the Monday after the Six-Day Firearm Deer Season each year. The Endangered and Nongame Species Program, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, manages the fields and scrub-shrub areas for migrating songbirds and raptors. Higbee Beach is also home to lots of dragonflies and butterflies.
Owned by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and managed by NJ Fish & Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Area System is composed 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. Purchased with funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, state waterfowl stamps and through the Green Acres Program, WMAs provide habitat for fish and wildlife species, as well as outstanding hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife viewing opportunities. WMAs are maintained and supported with funding from license sales, the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program.
If you are interested in supporting the maintenance of the Higbee Beach WMA and other Wildlife Management Areas, become a Wildlife Habitat Supporter by donating now:
Learn more about the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program
WMAs are patrolled by NJ Fish & Wildlife Conservation Police Officers to ensure public safety. If you see violations while visiting a WMA, please call the 24-hour DEP hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337).
The views expressed by the editors, authors or users of this linked article are expressly theirs, and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of Dallas Safari Club Northeast, its employees, members or assigns. Any concerns about a site user’s post should be addressed appropriately to that person. Any concerns about an advertiser, a user or any content on this site should be addressed to contact@dscnortheast.org.
