With over 500 species calling the state home, New Jersey ranks as one of the most diverse wildlife habitats in the United States. The book is divided into seven sections - mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and bivalves. A chapter on individual species details animal identification, distribution, habitat, diet, life cycle, status and conservation, and limiting factors and threats, as well as recommendations for preservation. The authors also explore the particular characteristics of the species within New Jersey, including the species' distribution, population status, and breeding and migration behaviours.
Bruce E. Beans is the chief editor/writer for the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program and author of Eagle's Plume: The Struggle to Preserve the Life and Haunts of America's Bald Eagle. Larry Niles is chief of the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program.