Hunterdon County grant helps preserve Woodlands Wildlife Refuge property in Alexandria Township
ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — An 11-acre property that has served as the home of Woodlands Wildlife Refuge for more than two decades is slated for permanent preservation with help from a Hunterdon County open space grant.
The Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners approved a $630,000 Open Space Acquisition Assistance Grant toward the $1.26 million purchase of 11.34 acres at 676 County Road 513 in Alexandria Township.
The acquisition will allow Woodlands Wildlife Refuge to take permanent ownership of the property, where it has operated its wildlife rehabilitation facility for the past 24 years. The nonprofit’s current lease is scheduled to expire in May 2027.
“Woodlands Wildlife Refuge has provided an invaluable service to Hunterdon County and communities throughout New Jersey for decades,” said Commissioner Director John E. Lanza. “Preserving this property ensures that Woodlands can continue its important work caring for injured and orphaned wildlife while protecting the natural resources that make this area so special.”
The county’s $630,000 contribution will come from the Hunterdon County Open Space Trust Fund. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program will provide $450,000, while Woodlands Wildlife Refuge will contribute $180,000.
More than 85% of the property consists of undeveloped meadowlands and forest, according to the county. It is within a larger preservation corridor surrounded by preserved farmland and contains headwaters of the Nishisakawick Creek Watershed, which the county has identified as a high-priority area for preservation.
“This acquisition is about much more than protecting acreage,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Jeff Kuhl. “It protects critical habitat, helps preserve the headwaters of the Nishisakawick Creek Watershed, and provides stability for an organization that plays a unique role in wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education. By helping Woodlands move from a long-term lease to permanent ownership, the County is protecting an important environmental asset and strengthening the future of this valuable community resource.”
Woodlands Wildlife Refuge is marking 40 years of service in Hunterdon County. The organization rehabilitates and releases more than 2,700 injured and orphaned wild animals annually while providing conservation education and promoting the protection of native wildlife and habitats.
The property has been identified by the NJDEP Landscape Project as breeding habitat for the American kestrel, which is listed as threatened in New Jersey, and the brown thrasher, a species of special concern. The property also has potential habitat for other threatened, endangered and candidate species, according to the county.
Woodlands is also New Jersey’s only state-licensed facility for rehabilitating injured or orphaned black bears. Its specialized bear rehabilitation program has operated for about 30 years.
“Hunterdon County’s Open Space Trust Fund allows us to protect properties that serve a lasting public purpose,” Kuhl said. “Woodlands Wildlife Refuge is an excellent example of that mission in action. This is a place where open space conservation, wildlife protection, environmental education, and community service come together.”
With permanent ownership, Woodlands plans to continue enhancing meadow habitat and expand environmental education opportunities, including interpretive trails, seasonal nature walks and migratory bird viewing.
The property will be permanently protected through a Green Acres Deed of Conservation Restriction, ensuring the land remains dedicated to conservation and open space.
