The Story of Unexpected Wildlife Refuge
The Story of Unexpected Wildlife Refuge
In 1954, Cavit and Hope Buyukmihci, with their three children, purchased an 85-acre tract in Buena Vista Township, located in the Pinelands, halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mostly wooded swampland, the purchase included a cabin and an old barn on an acre of cleared land, and a stream which beavers had dammed to create a large pond. The Buyukmihcis were distressed by the increase in land development, reducing the habitat available for wildlife in Southern New Jersey. Since childhood, Hope had enjoyed the delightful wonder of bluebirds nesting in the spring, and it was vital that she passed along her respect and love for nature to her family. The couple decided to dedicate their land to habitat preservation so that native wildlife and habitat could thrive.
The Buyukmihcis settled down to raise their children in a simple environment. They made trails throughout the property, erected bird houses and posted NO TRESSPASSING signs. They named their haven Unexpected Wildlife Refuge after Unexpected Road, off which it is situated. Friends, photographers, clubs and school children visited the Refuge to learn about the environment of South Jersey. That was in 1961 when the word ecology was unknown to the general public. To support the Refuge, Cavit worked as a metallurgist while Hope observed and photographed wildlife within the Refuge and wrote about her experiences. She published three books and gave lectures in schools, clubs and churches. In 1970, after befriending a family of beavers, she founded The Beaver Defenders, an organization dedicated to beaver protection and education.
Unexpected Wildlife Refuge, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, supported entirely by private donations. Today, forty years later, the board of directors continues to maintain an inviolate sanctuary for wildlife and supports the promotion of humane education as originally outlined in the corporate charter. Hunting, trapping, fishing and invasive observation of animals are prohibited. After years of land acquisition the Refuge has grown to include 540 acres of swamps, bogs, forests and lakes; an extensive habitat for species indigenous to the Southern New Jersey Pinelands region. The Refuge is the home to seven active beaver lodges located within Main Lake Branch, which flows through the Refuge.
Guided tours are provided to groups of five, and each year approximately 200 visitors hike the ten miles of trails that wind through the Refuge property. Educational and reference materials are available to visitors at the Nature Center. More than 100 bird houses provide nesting sites for bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, crested flycatchers, tree swallows, prothonotary warblers, house wrens, wood ducks and screech owls. Most of the land is left undisturbed except for two-acres of bluebird habitat that is mowed regularly. As many as six pairs of bluebirds nest in the Refuge. Some of the birds winter over, feeding on cedar berries deep in the swamps.
Cavit Buyukmihci died in 1987, shortly after he had retired with the plan of spending more time protecting the Refuge and becoming more involved in the cause of animal rights. Hope continued to run the Refuge with the help of dedicated volunteers, supported entirely by private donations from visitors. On June 20, 2001, Hope passed the directorship to Sarah Summerville, who will carry on with the Refuge purpose of protecting the wild inhabitants and promoting humane education.
The Refuge is in constant need of volunteers to help in the endeavor to remain open to ecological observation and environmental education. The many trails that wind through this wilderness need to be kept open, and several acres of bluebird habitat must be mown monthly during growing season. The bird houses and wood duck boxes must be cleaned and maintained after each nesting season. In addition to these tasks, volunteers are always needed to patrol during the annual deer hunting season in December. This activity involves walking the property perimeter to ensure that no hunters enter the Refuge. The office, outbuildings, tools and equipment require constant attention and upkeep.
Since Cavit passed away in 1987, the Refuge has been sustained entirely by small donations given by some of the generous people who visit the Refuge annually. Expenses include liability insurance, professional fees, building, equipment and vehicle maintenance, printing and mailing costs, and residential taxes.
We hope that you choose to join in the struggle to preserve and protect the precious resources of Southern New Jersey, either through financial support or volunteer efforts. All monetary donations made to Unexpected Wildlife Refuge are tax deductible.
The Unexpected Wildlife Refuge will support its charter to provide unspoiled Pinelands habitat and protection to the wildlife therein and to promote the humane treatment of animals through education. Short-term goals include: habitat preservation, educational slide presentations, continual trail maintenance and fund raising to support these endeavors. Long term goals are continual land acquisition for habitat preservation and the promotion of environmental education.
