Morris County Animal & Nature Council

06/19/2026

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A strip of wildflowers can reduce the need for pesticides. Why aren't they everywhere? 🌼🐞🌾

farmers are planting strips of wildflowers through and around their fields for a surprisingly powerful reason: they attract insects that help control crop pests.

Ladybugs are among the best-known examples. Both adults and larvae consume aphids, tiny insects that damage crops by sucking sap from plants. A single ladybug can eat dozens of aphids per day, while its larvae can consume hundreds during development.

But ladybugs are only part of it.

Wildflower strips also attract hoverflies, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and predatory beetles. Many of these insects are natural enemies of crop pests including aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and caterpillars.

Scientists call this "conservation biological control." Instead of introducing predators into a field, farmers create habitat that helps naturally occurring beneficial insects survive and reproduce.

The flowers provide nectar and pollen, which many beneficial insects need as adults. Research has shown that access to flowering plants can increase the lifespan, reproduction, and hunting activity of pest-eating insects.

Parasitic wasps provide one of the most remarkable examples. Some species lay their eggs inside aphids and caterpillars. The developing larvae consume the pest from within, eventually killing it.

Studies have found that fields with flower strips often support greater numbers of beneficial insects and experience higher rates of natural pest control than fields without them.

The benefits can extend beyond pest management. Flower strips may also support pollinators, improve biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, and provide habitat for wildlife in agricultural landscapes.

Researchers are now studying which flower species work best for different crops and regions. The goal is to design strips that support the most effective communities of beneficial insects while maximizing crop protection.

06/06/2026

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06/04/2026

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A single bucket, buried flush with the ground, becomes a functioning wildlife pond. Not a birdbath — a complete food web that runs itself. Cost is zero. 🌿

What shows up on its own within weeks, without any stocking or intervention:

Dragonflies arrive within days. Their larvae spend one to two years hunting underwater before emerging — while adults patrol above and take significant numbers of mosquitoes on the wing.

Native tree frogs — green tree frogs in the Southeast, gray tree frogs across the East and Midwest, Pacific tree frogs in the West — locate standing water reliably. Once they find it, they return each season and feed heavily on garden insects through the night.

American robins and other ground-feeding birds use pond water at soil level in ways they will not use an elevated birdbath. Ground-level water mimics a natural puddle — exactly what most garden wildlife is actually looking for.

Native toads (American toad, Fowler's toad, depending on your region) will use the stone ramp and breed in still water. Note: if you are in Florida or Hawaii, cane toads are an invasive species — do not encourage them.

The four things that make this work:
- A stone ramp at one edge so frogs, toads, and birds can walk in and out
- A sturdy branch angled from the bottom to the rim as an escape route for anything that falls in
- A gravel or rock layer on the bottom for aquatic insect larvae to shelter in
- A native aquatic plant — dwarf cattail, blue flag iris, or pickerelweed — for oxygen and perching 🌱

Ground-level water is what most backyard wildlife needs and almost no garden provides.

06/01/2026

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For decades, animal testing has been considered a standard part of developing new medicines and chemicals in the United States. Behind laboratory doors, millions of animals—including mice, rabbits, dogs, and monkeys—have been used in experiments designed to evaluate safety and effectiveness before products reach the public.

Now, a major shift may be underway.

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced plans to accelerate the move toward alternatives to animal testing, arguing that modern science offers new tools that could dramatically reduce the need for animals in research.

The push comes as advances in technology continue to reshape the field. Scientists are increasingly using artificial intelligence, human cell cultures, organ-on-a-chip systems, and other innovative methods designed to mimic human biology more accurately than traditional animal experiments.

Supporters of the transition say these technologies could improve medical research while sparing millions of animals from laboratory procedures. They point to studies showing that many drugs that appear promising in animals ultimately fail in human clinical trials, raising questions about how well animal models predict human outcomes.

Momentum for reform grew after federal lawmakers updated drug testing regulations, making it possible for companies to use certain non-animal testing methods when seeking approval for new treatments. Animal advocates view the change as a historic opportunity to modernize research and reduce animal suffering on a massive scale.

Not everyone agrees the transition should happen quickly. Some scientists caution that animal studies still provide valuable information in areas where replacement technologies are not yet fully developed. They argue that additional research and validation will be needed before animal testing can be significantly reduced across all fields.

What is clear is that the future of medical research is evolving. The debate is no longer about whether alternatives exist—it is about how quickly science, regulators, and industry can adapt to them.

For millions of animals currently living in research laboratories, the decisions made over the next few years could change everything. ❤️🐾

05/30/2026

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Support NJ Audubon while enjoying live music, animal encounters, crafts, food, and cold brews — all in one family-friendly afternoon

To Register:
https://njaudubon.org/event/birds-and-brews-family-fun-day-2/

05/26/2026

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Safety is the reason I am doing this. Every box I build has one purpose behind it, to give these little ones a safer place in a world that can be so unforgiving. Through storms, freezing nights, predators, and all the challenges they face every single day, I want them to have somewhere they can rest and feel protected.

The little one looking through the window here was completely safe and went right back to bed after checking on the world outside for a moment. Moments like this remind me why I started building these boxes in the first place.

I know I cannot save them all, but if I can help even one squirrel make it through another night safely, then every late night, every design change, and every bit of effort is worth it to me. Seeing them curled up inside one of my boxes sleeping peacefully reminds me exactly why I started this journey.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, shared my posts, or given one of my boxes a home in your yard. You are helping create safe places for lives that many people never stop to notice. That means more to me than I could ever explain.

05/24/2026

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All preserved farmland owners can order a FREE large or small farmland preservation sign regardless of what program the farm was preserved through (state, county, municipal, nonprofit)!

Just fill out this form -https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/documents/signorderform.pdf - and send it to Alyssa Esposito at [email protected], or call 609-913-6593.

Shoutout to the Sage Farm in Millstone Township, Monmouth County, specializing in berries, honey, and livestock, which was preserved on February 6, 2026 through the SADC's Municipal Planning Incentive Grant (PIG) Program. They are rockin' their new sign! Do you have a great photo of your farmland preservation sign? Feel free to share!

05/22/2026

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California has officially taken one of the biggest steps for cat protection in the United States. 🐾

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law banning cat declawing across the state, making California the largest U.S. state to outlaw the controversial procedure. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2026.

Animal advocates have fought for years to end declawing because it is far more than removing a cat’s nails. The procedure amputates the last bone of each toe and can leave cats with permanent pain, mobility problems, anxiety, and behavioral changes for the rest of their lives. Many declawed cats later struggle with jumping, walking, or even using the litter box normally.

Under the new law, declawing will only be allowed if a licensed veterinarian determines it is medically necessary due to illness, infection, or injury. Veterinarians who violate the law could face serious penalties, including large fines and disciplinary action against their license.

Supporters say the decision reflects a growing shift in how society views animals—not as property or decoration, but as living beings capable of suffering.

California now joins a small but growing number of states that have banned the practice, including New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Many animal lovers are calling this a historic victory for cats. 🐈

Do you think the rest of the country should follow California’s lead?