{"id":9440,"date":"2025-07-14T16:05:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T16:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/9440\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T16:05:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T16:05:03","slug":"n-j-launches-wildlife-tracker-app-for-rare-endangered-species-how-you-can-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/9440\/","title":{"rendered":"N.J. launches wildlife tracker app for rare, endangered species. How you can help."},"content":{"rendered":"

New Jersey wildlife officials are calling on residents to become citizen scientists by reporting wildlife sightings through a new mobile application designed to protect endangered species<\/a> and reduce roadkill incidents across the state.<\/p>\n

The NJ Wildlife Tracker<\/a>, recently launched by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection\u2019s Fish and Wildlife division, allows users to document rare wildlife species sightings and observations<\/a> of any wildlife on roadways using their smartphones or computers.<\/p>\n

Wildlife sightings from the public are useful to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, according to the state website. The data collected helps maintain the state\u2019s natural heritage inventory and contributes to critical habitat mapping.<\/p>\n

The tracker application helps officials monitor rare and endangered species populations and identifies problem areas where wildlife frequently cross roads, supporting the state\u2019s Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey project<\/a>, or CHANJ.<\/p>\n

The department emphasizes safety first when reporting wildlife, especially along roadways, and reminds the public to give wildlife space.<\/p>\n

For certain species found dead on roads, including bobcats, river otters, fishers, and black bears, residents should call the DEP Action Line at 877-927-6337 rather than using the app. <\/p>\n

Biologists will collect these carcasses to gather important samples.<\/p>\n

The state has also created specialized reporting methods for other wildlife categories:<\/p>\n

Marine rare species can be reported through the Marine Protected Wildlife Reporter application<\/a>.Banded birds should be reported to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.<\/a>Upland birds like American woodcock have their own survey<\/a>.Furbearers such as beaver and coyote can be reported through the Furbearers Survey<\/a>.Wild turkey sightings can be submitted through a dedicated brood survey running from July to September.<\/p>\n

For those who find injured wildlife, the department provides a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The wildlife tracker is part of what the department calls the \u201cSummer of CHANJ,\u201d referring to its initiative to make the landscape easier for wildlife to move through by identifying and addressing barriers to animal movement.<\/p>\n

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.<\/p>\n

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