Mammals

Dean Newman Photography

These are some mammals you are likely to see in and around the water.


Muskrat

Muskrats are common across the state. While considerably bigger than plain old rats, they are nowhere near the size of beavers, which can get to 50 pounds. Muskrats have tails that are slightly flattened from side to side, unlike beavers which have broad flat tails. Both animals build conical houses in the water, but only beavers build dams.

-- Wikipedia


Harbor Seal

Harbor seals are not uncommon in the winter, but kayaking is, so don't expect to encounter them when you are out for a paddle.


River Otter

Otters are aquatic weasels. You may find them climbing around on banks, or splashing around in the water, especially around dusk.


Raritan River
( 40.59399, -74.59918 )

  1. Raritan River - Bound Brook ( 40.55995, -74.52758 )
  2. Raritan River - Branchburg ( 40.55644, -74.68838 )
  3. Raritan River - Duke Island (E) ( 40.56082, -74.64751 )
  4. Raritan River - Duke Island (W) ( 40.55279, -74.68330 )
  5. Raritan River - Edison ( 40.48791, -74.38382 )
  6. Raritan River - Highland Park ( 40.48864, -74.42226 )
  7. Raritan River - New Brunswick ( 40.48760, -74.43280 )
  8. Raritan River - Perth Amboy ( 40.50057, -74.27712 )
  9. Raritan River - Piscataway (N) ( 40.54085, -74.51236 )
  10. Raritan River - Piscataway (S) ( 40.50935, -74.46641 )
  11. Raritan River - Power Canal ( 40.55112, -74.67136 )
  12. Raritan River - Raritan ( 40.56492, -74.63884 )
  13. Raritan River - Sayreville ( 40.47450, -74.35606 )
  14. Raritan River - Somerville (E) ( 40.55798, -74.61520 )
  15. Raritan River - Somerville (W) ( 40.56539, -74.63173 )
  16. Raritan River North Branch ( 40.60018, -74.67447 )
  17. Raritan River North Branch - Far Hills ( 40.68441, -74.64214 )
  18. Raritan River North Branch - Natirar Park ( 40.64761, -74.68024 )
  19. Raritan River North Branch Depot ( 40.58160, -74.68161 )
  20. Raritan River South Branch ( 40.54640, -74.69603 )
  21. Raritan River South Branch - Clinton (N) ( 40.63854, -74.91169 )
  22. Raritan River South Branch - Clinton (S) ( 40.62806, -74.91200 )
  23. Raritan River South Branch - Flemington (C) ( 40.52105, -74.82666 )
  24. Raritan River South Branch - Flemington (E) ( 40.50354, -74.77814 )
  25. Raritan River South Branch - Flemington (N) ( 40.53810, -74.83934 )
  26. Raritan River South Branch - Hamden ( 40.59699, -74.89827 )
  27. Raritan River South Branch - High Bridge (N) ( 40.66394, -74.89742 )
  28. Raritan River South Branch - High Bridge (S) ( 40.66094, -74.90237 )
  29. Raritan River South Branch - Lockwood Gorge (N) ( 40.69682, -74.87171 )
  30. Raritan River South Branch - Lockwood Gorge (S) ( 40.68816, -74.88014 )
  31. Raritan River South Branch - Neshanic (E) ( 40.50873, -74.72776 )
  32. Raritan River South Branch - Neshanic (W) ( 40.50250, -74.74182 )
  33. Raritan River South Branch - Rte 31 ( 40.56315, -74.85544 )
  34. Raritan River South Branch - Stanton ( 40.57219, -74.86834 )
  35. Raritan River South Branch - Sunnyside ( 40.57942, -74.88795 )

The Raritan River is what is left of the outflow of the Hudson River after it broke through the Verrazano Narrows about 6,000 years ago and changed to its present course. The modern Raritan River drains much of central New Jersey, with tributaries threading through the state from Princeton to Morristown. One northern tributary - the Lamington River - reaches almost to Lake Hopatcong. Zoom the map out to see the entire drainage. The thin red line is the "fall line" - the nominal division between uplands and lowlands.

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