Name: Dismal Swamp
Item: Dismal Swamp
Author: david peterson

Description: Dismal Swamp is one of the last remaining wetlands in a highly urbanized environment. It is designated a “priority wetland” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The area features wetlands that are of unique ecological value, upland deciduous forests with mature trees more than 50 years old and abandoned fields rich with herbaceous vegetation. The open swampland along Bound Brook provides a floodwater storage buffer for surrounding developments.

Wildlife to Watch: The swamp supports a variety of wildlife-sightings of at least 165 bird species are recorded each year. Look for green herons, American bitterns, American black ducks, northern harriers, Virginia rails, spotted sandpipers, yellow-billed cuckoos, and eastern phoebes in the wetlands and fields. Songbirds are numerous in the wetland and upland forests and endangered loggerhead shrikes are reported to breed here. Sightings of endangered grasshopper sparrows are also on record. The swamp’s mammals include white-tailed deer, raccoons, eastern cottontails, and red foxes. Eastern box turtles, and spotted turtles, black racers, and northern water snakes are among the reptiles present.

Other Activities: Take the Dismal Swamp trail from Metuchen for a short but interesting hike through a portion of the swamp. The trail is fun for children and unique in that it uses fallen trees as observation blinds and bridges.

Driving Directions: From New Jersey 27 in Metuchen, turn north onto Central Avenue and go left (west) to Liberty Street (note sign for Liberty Corporate Center). Proceed for 0.6 miles to a cul-de-sac. The entrance to the observation trail is located near the Green Acres sign. There is no parking at the larger Edison portion of the swamp. However, Talmadge Road (from NJ 27) crosses the swamp and provides an elevated view.

For more information call (908) 632-8520.

Ownership: Edison Township, Borough of Metuchen
Size: 240 acres in Edison, almost 10 acres in Metuchen
Closest Town: Edison and Metuchen

Facilities:

Best Seasons for Wildlife Viewing:

Main Photo Credit: Yellow-billed Cuckoo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Wildlife Viewing Areas

A Guide to North American Wildlife Viewing Opportunities

Dismal Swamp

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Dismal Swamp

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