Bear Swamp (New Jersey) facts for kids
Bear Swamp is a special swamp located in Cumberland County, New Jersey. It's famous for its huge, ancient trees, covering about 215 acres (87 hectares), and the amazing birds that live there. The swamp is split into two parts: Bear Swamp East and Bear Swamp West. Roads and gravel mines separate these two areas.
What is Bear Swamp West Like?
Bear Swamp West is a forest with many different kinds of trees. You'll find lots of black gum, American sweetgum, red maple, and sweetbay magnolia trees here. Other trees like American beech, swamp white oak, and American holly also grow in this area.
About 100 acres (40 hectares) of this forest is considered "old-growth." This means the trees are very old and very big! Some black gum trees are almost 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide and can be 600 years old. Sweetgum trees are also nearly 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide and can be 300 years old. Red maple trees can grow to be over 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. The American holly trees are especially large, reaching about 22 inches (56 centimeters) wide and 80 feet (24 meters) tall!
What is Bear Swamp East Like?
Bear Swamp East is part of Belleplain State Forest. It's a much larger area, covering about 1,439 acres (582 hectares). Like Bear Swamp West, it also has a section of old-growth forest, about 115 acres (47 hectares) in size.
The forests here are similar to those in Bear Swamp West. However, Bear Swamp East also has very large Tulip Poplar trees growing on small hills called hummocks. Some of these tulip poplars can be 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide and as old as 400 years!
Home for Amazing Birds
Bear Swamp is a very important place for many birds. It's a nesting spot for as many as 30 bald eagles! In fact, it's home to the oldest bald eagle nest in New Jersey that has been used continuously.
The swamp is also a breeding ground for other special birds. These include red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, and Cooper's hawks. These birds are considered "species of concern" in New Jersey, meaning their populations need to be watched carefully. Bear Swamp is also one of only two known places in southern New Jersey where pileated woodpeckers breed.
