New Jersey Pinelands Commission
@pinescommission.bsky.social
The NJ Pinelands Commission is a state agency that oversees the protection of the 938,000-acre Pinelands Area of southern New Jersey. All photos by Commission staff, unless otherwise noted.
Pinelands Pete saw his shadow today, then ate some acorns. This means he was hungry, according to sources familiar with eating. Groundhogs are omnivores who mostly eat plants, when not called upon to predict the weather.
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#GroundhogDay #wildlife #nature
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#GroundhogDay #wildlife #nature
February 2, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Pinelands Pete saw his shadow today, then ate some acorns. This means he was hungry, according to sources familiar with eating. Groundhogs are omnivores who mostly eat plants, when not called upon to predict the weather.
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#GroundhogDay #wildlife #nature
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#GroundhogDay #wildlife #nature
OFF THE SCALES: Happy National Serpent Day in the New Jersey Pinelands! Snakes are a key part of the Pinelands ecosystem, serving as predator and prey and helping to maintain biodiversity in this 1.1-million-acre region. 🐍 🌎
📷: Pinelands Commission staff
#snakes #nationalserpentday #wildlife
📷: Pinelands Commission staff
#snakes #nationalserpentday #wildlife
February 1, 2026 at 3:06 PM
OFF THE SCALES: Happy National Serpent Day in the New Jersey Pinelands! Snakes are a key part of the Pinelands ecosystem, serving as predator and prey and helping to maintain biodiversity in this 1.1-million-acre region. 🐍 🌎
📷: Pinelands Commission staff
#snakes #nationalserpentday #wildlife
📷: Pinelands Commission staff
#snakes #nationalserpentday #wildlife
HATCHING A PLAN: Here's a new photo of a gorgeous red-breasted nuthatch foraging beside a trail in the Pinelands. This lively species is a frequent visitor at birdfeeders this time of year, and I love seeing and hearing them in Pinelands forests. 🐦 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #wildlife
January 31, 2026 at 1:41 PM
This morning's brisk but beautiful view of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. 🌞 ❄️ 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#sunrise #trees #nature #forests
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#sunrise #trees #nature #forests
January 30, 2026 at 7:39 PM
This morning's brisk but beautiful view of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. 🌞 ❄️ 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#sunrise #trees #nature #forests
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#sunrise #trees #nature #forests
Happy Rattlesnake Appreciation Day in the New Jersey Pinelands! The venomous timber #rattlesnake (Crotalis horridus) can be found in parts of northern New Jersey and the million-acre Pinelands in southern New Jersey. 🐍 🌎
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#wildlife #snakes
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#wildlife #snakes
January 28, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Happy Rattlesnake Appreciation Day in the New Jersey Pinelands! The venomous timber #rattlesnake (Crotalis horridus) can be found in parts of northern New Jersey and the million-acre Pinelands in southern New Jersey. 🐍 🌎
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#wildlife #snakes
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#wildlife #snakes
Happy Blueberry Pancake Day in the New Jersey Pinelands! The Garden State ranks among the top producers of #blueberries in the U.S. with the vast majority of berries grown on farms in the million-acre Pinelands of southern New Jersey. 🥞 🫐
👨🍳/📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
👨🍳/📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
January 28, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Happy Blueberry Pancake Day in the New Jersey Pinelands! The Garden State ranks among the top producers of #blueberries in the U.S. with the vast majority of berries grown on farms in the million-acre Pinelands of southern New Jersey. 🥞 🫐
👨🍳/📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
👨🍳/📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
Dreaming of warmer, more turtle-y days on Turtle Tuesday in the New Jersey Pinelands. Here are native red-bellied #turtles basking beside painted turtles in the Pinelands, as photographed in April 2024. 🐢 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#wildlife #photography
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#wildlife #photography
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Dreaming of warmer, more turtle-y days on Turtle Tuesday in the New Jersey Pinelands. Here are native red-bellied #turtles basking beside painted turtles in the Pinelands, as photographed in April 2024. 🐢 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#wildlife #photography
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#wildlife #photography
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program entitled "Ospreys and Menhaden: A Shared History of Abundance and Decline." 🐦 🪶 🐟
Tap here to register:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#birds #birdphotography #wildlife
Tap here to register:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#birds #birdphotography #wildlife
January 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program entitled "Ospreys and Menhaden: A Shared History of Abundance and Decline." 🐦 🪶 🐟
Tap here to register:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#birds #birdphotography #wildlife
Tap here to register:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#birds #birdphotography #wildlife
HERE WE SNOW: How much snow has fallen in your area so far? Let us know in the comments! ❄️
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#snow #snowstorm #NewJersey
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#snow #snowstorm #NewJersey
January 25, 2026 at 3:56 PM
HERE WE SNOW: How much snow has fallen in your area so far? Let us know in the comments! ❄️
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#snow #snowstorm #NewJersey
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#snow #snowstorm #NewJersey
Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day in the #NewJersey #Pinelands! We all benefit from their prolific plantings from buried and forgotten acorns and other seeds. Indeed, #squirrels plant the trees of tomorrow. And for that, we can be thankful. 🐿️ 🌎 🌳
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
##squirrelappreciationday
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
##squirrelappreciationday
January 21, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day in the #NewJersey #Pinelands! We all benefit from their prolific plantings from buried and forgotten acorns and other seeds. Indeed, #squirrels plant the trees of tomorrow. And for that, we can be thankful. 🐿️ 🌎 🌳
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
##squirrelappreciationday
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
##squirrelappreciationday
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program entitled "Taking the Devil out of the Devil’s Tooth & Other Pine Barrens Mushrooms: Illuminating the Hidden Kingdom of Fungi." 🍄🌎 Tap here: stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#mushrooms #mycology #fungi
#mushrooms #mycology #fungi
January 20, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program entitled "Taking the Devil out of the Devil’s Tooth & Other Pine Barrens Mushrooms: Illuminating the Hidden Kingdom of Fungi." 🍄🌎 Tap here: stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#mushrooms #mycology #fungi
#mushrooms #mycology #fungi
A PINELANDS WONDERLAND: Scenes from today's hike along the beautiful Batona Trail in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. The Pinelands Area is somehow even more spectacular when blanketed by #snow. ❄️ 🥾 🌲
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#snow #winter #nj
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#snow #winter #nj
January 20, 2026 at 1:21 AM
A PINELANDS WONDERLAND: Scenes from today's hike along the beautiful Batona Trail in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. The Pinelands Area is somehow even more spectacular when blanketed by #snow. ❄️ 🥾 🌲
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#snow #winter #nj
📷: John Bunnell, Pinelands Commission Chief Scientist
#snow #winter #nj
CUTEST MAXIMUS: Happy Sunday! Here are new photos of a dark-eyed junco foraging in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. "Dark-eyed Juncos are among the most abundant forest birds of North America," according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 🐦 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphoto #wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphoto #wildlife
January 18, 2026 at 5:02 PM
CUTEST MAXIMUS: Happy Sunday! Here are new photos of a dark-eyed junco foraging in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. "Dark-eyed Juncos are among the most abundant forest birds of North America," according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 🐦 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphoto #wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphoto #wildlife
PINELANDS PAIRING: Here are new photos of a nesting pair of bald #eagles in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. The photos below show their nest, which we reported to the state NJDEP. It is a newly reported #eagle nest. Yay! 🐦
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #wildlife #nature
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #wildlife #nature
January 16, 2026 at 5:04 PM
PINELANDS PAIRING: Here are new photos of a nesting pair of bald #eagles in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. The photos below show their nest, which we reported to the state NJDEP. It is a newly reported #eagle nest. Yay! 🐦
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #wildlife #nature
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #wildlife #nature
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program highlighting beautiful #butterflies and crazy caterpillars. Tap here for info/to register:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
🦋 🌎
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
🦋 🌎
January 15, 2026 at 7:26 PM
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program highlighting beautiful #butterflies and crazy caterpillars. Tap here for info/to register:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
🦋 🌎
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
🦋 🌎
HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE: Happy Waterfowl Wednesday! Here's a new gallery of snow geese flying and foraging in the Pinelands National Reserve. 🪿 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #birdphotography#wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #birdphotography#wildlife
January 14, 2026 at 11:57 PM
HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE: Happy Waterfowl Wednesday! Here's a new gallery of snow geese flying and foraging in the Pinelands National Reserve. 🪿 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #birdphotography#wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #birdphotography#wildlife
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program highlighting eastern box #turtles and the Pinelands Commission’s scientific, radiotracking study of this secretive species. 🐢 Tap here for info:
www.nj.gov/pinelands/ho...
#wildlife #science
www.nj.gov/pinelands/ho...
#wildlife #science
January 13, 2026 at 3:23 PM
The 37th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 39 presentations, including a new program highlighting eastern box #turtles and the Pinelands Commission’s scientific, radiotracking study of this secretive species. 🐢 Tap here for info:
www.nj.gov/pinelands/ho...
#wildlife #science
www.nj.gov/pinelands/ho...
#wildlife #science
Registration is now open for the 37th annual Pinelands Short Course, which will feature 39 presentations and will be held at Stockton University’s main campus in Galloway Township, NJ, on March 7, 2026. Tap here for info:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#wildlife #nature
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#wildlife #nature
January 12, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Registration is now open for the 37th annual Pinelands Short Course, which will feature 39 presentations and will be held at Stockton University’s main campus in Galloway Township, NJ, on March 7, 2026. Tap here for info:
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#wildlife #nature
stockton.edu/ettc/pinelan...
#wildlife #nature
Happy Sunday! Here are new photos of a male downy woodpecker in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. Downy woodpeckers are smaller than similar-looking hairy woodpeckers and sport a shorter bill. 🐦 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphotography #nature
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphotography #nature
January 11, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Happy Sunday! Here are new photos of a male downy woodpecker in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. Downy woodpeckers are smaller than similar-looking hairy woodpeckers and sport a shorter bill. 🐦 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphotography #nature
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#birds #birdphotography #nature
A dreary day brightened by the presence of a vibrant eastern bluebird in the #NewJersey #Pinelands ...
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#Bluebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#Bluebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography
January 10, 2026 at 6:59 PM
A dreary day brightened by the presence of a vibrant eastern bluebird in the #NewJersey #Pinelands ...
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#Bluebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#Bluebird #birdphotography #wildlifephotography
NOM NOM NOM: Here are new photos of #beavers nibbling on plants and swimming in a bog in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. The American beaver (Castor canadensis) can weigh more than 70 pounds. They are herbivores. 🦫 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife
January 8, 2026 at 8:04 PM
NOM NOM NOM: Here are new photos of #beavers nibbling on plants and swimming in a bog in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. The American beaver (Castor canadensis) can weigh more than 70 pounds. They are herbivores. 🦫 🌎
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife
📷: Paul Leakan, NJPC
#wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife
Happy Tues-dee! Here are new photos of chickadees munching on sweetgum seeds in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. 🐦 🌎 🌳
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #wildlifephotography #birdphoto
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #wildlifephotography #birdphoto
January 6, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Happy Tues-dee! Here are new photos of chickadees munching on sweetgum seeds in the #NewJersey #Pinelands. 🐦 🌎 🌳
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #wildlifephotography #birdphoto
📷: Paul Leakan, Pinelands Commission Communications Officer
#birds #wildlifephotography #birdphoto
The NJ Pinelands Commission has issued its latest Monthly Report, which highlights the work of the agency’s staff during December 2025. Tap here to read the report:
www.nj.gov/pinelands/in...
www.nj.gov/pinelands/in...
January 6, 2026 at 10:13 PM
The NJ Pinelands Commission has issued its latest Monthly Report, which highlights the work of the agency’s staff during December 2025. Tap here to read the report:
www.nj.gov/pinelands/in...
www.nj.gov/pinelands/in...