Beginning January 6, 2025, the Natural Heritage Program reports for wildlife species will utilize data from Landscape Project Version 3.4. If you have questions concerning the wildlife records or wildlife species mentioned in this response, we recommend that you visit the interactive web application at the following URL, https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/landscapeapp/, or contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program at (609) 292-9400.

Occurrences of Bald Eagle nest and roost habitat have “special concern” rank and are included in Landscape Project Version 3.4. The DEP also recognizes that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains additional jurisdiction pursuant to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA). They provide guidance to avoid negative impacts in the “National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines” document found at https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/national-bald-eagle-management-guidelines_0.pdf. They also provide a screening tool to help identify activities that may require a Federal permit, at https://www.fws.gov/media/northeast-bald-eagle-project-screening-form.

For occurrences of Osprey nests and other bird nests that persist year to year, active nests continue to be protected from disturbance that can result in “take” (i.e., disturbance that can cause abandonment or loss) pursuant to the NJ Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act (ENSCA) and the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. As a result of delisting of Osprey to “stable” conservation status, Osprey nests are not represented in Landscape Project maps, but nest locations are available online at www.Osprey-Watch.org.

For additional information regarding any Federally listed plant or animal species, please contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, New Jersey Field Office at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/endangered/consultation.html.

Information supplied by the Natural Heritage Program summarizes existing data known to the program at the time of the request regarding the biological elements (species and/or ecological communities) or their locations. They should never be regarded as final statements on the elements or areas being considered, nor should they be substituted for on-site surveys required for environmental assessments.

Thank you for consulting the Natural Heritage Program. The attached invoice details the payment due for processing this data request. Feel free to contact us again regarding any future data requests.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Cartica Administrator

c: NHP File No. 26-4007413-35599