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How We Can Help You

 

We have ongoing projects in various places throughout New Jersey. We often work with communities, commercial companies, conservation organizations, consulting firms, and government wildlife agencies. Please read more about what our program offers and contact us for more information.

Ecological Restoration and Flood Resilience

Restoring natural landscapes provides multiple benefits to both humans and wildlife, including climate resiliency, increased biodiversity, and improved public amenities. We partner with municipalities, state and federal agencies, and consultants to develop and implement ecological restoration plans across New Jersey. Regarding flood resiliency, have worked with multiple New Jersey Townships to develop restoration strategies for transforming flood-prone urban residential areas into community open space and natural habitats, resulting in improved flood storage potential and passive recreational opportunities. The goal is to strengthen community resiliency against storms, improve conservation value of these areas, and create low-maintenance strategies to ensure long-term persistence of public open space. Read our book ‘Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes: A Primer for New Jersey Communities‘ to learn more.

Our multidisciplinary team consists of ecologists, landscape architects, engineers, and planners, which allows us to address multiple facets of each unique project. We have experience restoring multiple habitat types (forests, meadows, constructed wetlands, beaches) to meet a diverse set of objectives (flood reduction, wildlife conservation, etc.). Our team can assist in all phases of the project, including pre- and post-restoration monitoring, landscape design, invasive species management, and construction.

Please contact us to set up a potential partnership.

Left: A restored meadow in Woodbridge Township.
Public Outreach and Education

We believe the key to sustainability is to increase public understanding of the importance of biodiversity in maintaining human quality of life. We offer a wide array of public outreach and education programming focused on the ecological underpinnings of sustainability. Typical programs include public lectures on general ecology, creating backyard habitat for birds and pollinators, and land management for wildlife. We also offer interactive programs on bat ecology and conservation, barn swallow ecology and conservation,  technical assistance for boy and girls scouts, and tailored programming to meet other needs. Please contact us for more information.

Right: Kathleen Kerwin and Morgan Mark teaching children about reptiles and amphibians.
Wildlife Management Plans

Our team of wildlife ecologists can assist landowners in managing properties for both desired species (threatened species, beneficial species) and nuisance wildlife (Canada geese, white-tailed deer). Our customized management plans include details on the life history traits and habitat requirements of target species, a baseline assessment of the property (habitat and target species abundance) from which to develop the plan, a 5-year plan with recommended interventions to meet landowner objectives, and a recommended monitoring plan to assess plan success. Please contact us to learn more.

Left: Canada goose utilizing a mowed lawn in Woodbridge Township.
Bat Roost Inspections and Bat House Installation Services

Our team is trained to inspect homes, garages and barns for signs of roosting bats (guano, staining, entrance points) and offer advice on how to legally and humanely manage bats getting inside these spaces. Although we do not offer bat exclusion services, we can recommend a list of wildlife control companies who have certified bat exclusion experts on staff. If you decide to perform an exclusion, we can install a bat house on your property free of charge. The bat house will provide an alternative housing option for your evicted bats, and encourage them to stay on your property so that they continue to provide you with free pest control. Please contact us with any questions or concerns about bats.

Right: A bat house occupied by big brown bats.
Wildlife Monitoring

Monitoring wildlife using standardized techniques can help land managers keep track of what species are present and help measure the effects of land-use modifications or habitat improvements. Our team of ecologists has experience monitoring birds (point-count surveys, seasonal nest monitoring), bats (acoustic surveys, radio-telemetry), large and small mammals (live trapping, infrared camera traps, track pads), amphibians (visual and call identification), and snakes (visual and live trapping). Please contact us for more information.

Left: An eastern box turtle found at a restoration site in Toms River, NJ.
Invasive Species Management

Invasive species threaten New Jersey’s biodiversity, human health, and economy. Our team performs invasive species monitoring and control services on a fee-for-service basis. We have two fully licensed NJ Commercial Pesticide Applicators on staff with experience controlling herbaceous and woody invasive plants in forest, meadow, and beach dune habitats. Our management methods include both mechanical and chemical, based on what invasive species are present. Please contact us for more information.

Right: Kathleen Kerwin and Jessica Ray spray Phragmites 
australis with herbicide. Photo Credit: Marc Virgilio, USFWS.