HomeEcology and Recreation

Ecology

The Black Run Preserve and associated watershed is home to an amazing variety of plants and animals.

Check out the Evesham Environmental Resource Inventory for more information about the natural resources in Evesham Township. You can also learn more about the ecology of the Pinelands by visiting the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and the Pinelands National Reserve .

Why Protect Black Run Preserve

Developed land directly leads to the degradation of water and habitat quality. The Black Run watershed will only remain pristine if the headwaters area is protected from excessive development. State scientists have determined that the Black Run watershed can tolerate some additional housing development, but not too much, without suffering significant harm.

Save The Plants & Wildlife

So if the headwaters area is developed as current zoning permits, Evesham will lose several hundred acres of surviving forest, and the development will pollute the streams flowing through the Black Run Preserve and irreparably degrade the Preserve as habitat for Pinelands plants and wildlife . For more information about the area see the Southern Evesham Medford Sub Plan prepared by the Pinelands Commission.

Eastern Box Turtle

Eastern box turtle seen along the Red Trail at the Black Run Preserve in late October 2013.

This Eastern Box Turtle was spotted along the Red Trail in the Black Run Preserve in late October 2013.

Box Turtles are known for their ability to hide in their shells, closing the doors to all threats. New Jersey has only one species of Box Turtle, the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina).

Where to find them: The Eastern Box Turtle is our most terrestrial species. It prefers woods and meadows. In hot, dry weather it may be found in muddy areas or shallow pools, or hiding under rotten logs or other decaying vegetation.

Size: 4" to 8.5"

Because the Eastern Box Turtle population in New Jersey has been declining, the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has listed them as a Species of Special Concern .

Threatened & Endangered Wildlife

Threatened & Endangered Animal Species

Barred owl (Strix varia)
Eastern Mud Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus)
Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)
Pine Barrens tree frog (Hyla andersonii)
Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) – threatened, breeding only
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) – threatened, breeding only
Triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata)

Animal Species Listed as Endangered

Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) – endangered for breeding / threatened for non-breeding
Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergi)

Rare & Endangered Plants

Rare and endangered plants in the watershed include:

Fly Poison Amianthium muscitoxicum
Eastern Silvery Aster Aster concolor
Pine Barren Reedgrass Calamovilfa brevipilis
Narrow-leaf Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium
Pine Barren Boneset Eupatorium resinosum
Southern Twayblade Listera australis
Sundial Lupine Lupinus perennis var. perennis
Northern Bog Club-moss Lycopodiella inundata
Climbing Fern Lygodium palmatum
Pine Barren Smoke Grass Muhlenbergia torreyana
American Mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
Maryland Milkwort Polygala mariana
Racemed Milkwort Polygala polygama
Algae-like Pondweed Potamogeton confervoides
Slender Horned-rush Rhynchospora inundata
Pale Beakedrush Rhynchospora pallida
Southern Arrowhead Sagittaria australis
Long’s Woolgrass Scirpus longii
Slender Nutrush Scleria minor
Two-flower Bladderwort Utricularia biflora
Purple Bladderwort Utricularia purpurea

Explore the Black Run Preserve

Enjoy the Black Run Preserve throughout the year with a variety of outdoor recreational activities.

Walking

The Preserve offers several miles of trails throughout the Preserve, including sandy roads and single track trails. All trails are marked. Check out the Black Run Preserve Trail Map for more information.

Mountain Biking

The Preserve provides numerous sandy roads and trails suitable for mountain biking, and several marked trails specifically designed for mountain biking.

Trail Running

The FBRP have created a marked 5K Route starting and ending at the Borton’s Road Trailhead. Refer to our specific 5K Route Trail Map.

Birdwatching

The Preserve is home to dozens of bird species.

Botanizing

The Preserve is home to dozens of native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees that are native to the Pine Barrens.

Cross Country Skiing

Sandy roads provide excellent terrain for X-Country skiing in winter.

BRP Kids Activity Sheets

Want a fun, educational way to keep your little ones engaged while exploring the Black Run Preserve? Appropriate for children 4 years and up, our activity sheets will help make your next family visit to BRP enjoyable and rewarding.

Download the files below, print them out, and bring them to the BRP along with any recommended materials.