Bobcat Sightings Highlight Duke Farms’ Critical Role in New Jersey’s Ecological Connectivity 

In early 2025, a trail camera at Duke Farms captured a rare and exhilarating sight, a bobcat, New Jersey's only native wild cat, prowling through the preserve. This remarkable event underscores the success of ongoing conservation efforts aimed at restoring and connecting vital habitats for wildlife across New Jersey. 

Bobcats (Lynx rufus), named for their distinctive short, "bobbed" tails, are medium-sized felines native to North America. They typically weigh between 15 to 30 pounds and measure about 25 to 35 inches long, with a 5-inch tail. Their coats vary from light gray and yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, often adorned with black spots and streaks that provide excellent camouflage in their natural habitats. Bobcats are solitary and elusive creatures, primarily nocturnal, and are rarely seen by humans. They are adaptable predators, feeding on a diverse diet that includes rabbits, rodents, birds, and occasionally larger prey such as deer. Their ability to thrive in various environments, from forests and swamps to semi-desert areas, demonstrates their remarkable adaptability.  

Historically, bobcats faced significant challenges due to habitat fragmentation and human encroachment, leading to a decline in their populations across the eastern United States. In New Jersey, these elusive cats were nearly extirpated by the mid-20th century. Recognizing the critical need for conservation, the state granted bobcats full legal protection in 1972 and listed them as endangered in 1991. Since then, dedicated efforts have been underway to restore their numbers and habitats.  

Duke Farms, encompassing over 2,500 acres, has been instrumental in these conservation initiatives. Through habitat restoration, reforestation, and regenerative land management, the preserve has transformed into a thriving ecosystem where native wildlife, including bobcats, can flourish. The recent bobcat sighting is a testament to these dedicated efforts, highlighting the importance of creating and maintaining ecological corridors that facilitate wildlife movement and genetic exchange between natural high quality core habitat. 

Ecological corridors are essential for connecting fragmented habitats, allowing wildlife to move freely between areas in search of food, mates, and shelter. In a state like New Jersey, characterized by dense urban development and an extensive network of roads, these corridors are vital for the survival of species like the bobcat. The Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) program plays a pivotal role in identifying and prioritizing areas for habitat connectivity. By mapping core habitats and potential corridors, CHANJ provides guidance for land protection, habitat restoration, and mitigation of road barriers that impede wildlife movement. Duke Farms is situated at a critical junction within the corridor network, serving as a vital steppingstone that allows wildlife to move and occur across central New Jersey.  

The CHANJ product builds on a rich body of literature that informed the connectivity models. For example, recent research published in Landscape Ecology in 2023 highlights how urban areas and fragmented habitats act as major roadblocks, preventing bobcats from expanding into new territories across the state. In a complementary thesis, Rita Isabel Matos (2020) of Montclair State University discovered that female bobcats in northwestern New Jersey prefer forested areas, while males are more likely to roam into agricultural landscapes. Additionally, recent wildlife disease studies, including research published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, indicate new concerns such as highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting bobcats documented in New York. Together, this research underscores why ecological corridors, pathways allowing wildlife safe passage between habitats, are crucial not only for bobcat survival but for maintaining biodiversity and resilience against emerging threats. 

Last year, legislative support further bolstered these conservation endeavors. In October 2024, the New Jersey State Senate unanimously passed Bill S3618, establishing a comprehensive Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. This legislation fosters collaboration between the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to design and implement strategies that protect and enhance critical wildlife movement areas across the state. By identifying high-risk zones for wildlife-vehicle collisions and implementing measures such as overpasses and culverts, the plan aims to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and promote biodiversity.  

The bobcat sighting at Duke Farms is more than just a rare glimpse of an elusive predator, it symbolizes the positive impact of concerted conservation efforts and the importance of ecological corridors in New Jersey. By continuing to prioritize habitat connectivity through programs like CHANJ, supporting legislative measures, and implementing practical infrastructure solutions, New Jersey is making significant strides toward ensuring that wildlife populations not only survive but also thrive in the Garden State.