To the Editor:

Princeton’s Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge has endured an ongoing campaign of vandalism over the past several years. The Friends of Rogers Refuge, the volunteer organization that has stewardship of the Refuge, is seeking to open communications with the party responsible for the destruction of our works to see whether we can come to an understanding.

Rogers Refuge is recognized throughout the state as a key site for migrating birds. It is located off West Drive on land adjacent to the Institute for Advanced Studies. Though the land belongs to New Jersey American Water, an environmental easement to the former Township of Princeton was established several decades ago in order to preserve the abundant wildlife of the refuge’s marshes and wet woodlands.

Since the Refuge was first founded, the Friends of Rogers Refuge have worked to preserve and improve its wildlife habitat through such actions as invasive species removal. We also seek to make the Refuge more welcoming to human visitors through building and improving trails and other infrastructure, such as observation platforms, bridges, and a parking area. Our activities are supported by donations from people who love Rogers Refuge and generous assistance from Washington Crossing Audubon Society, the Municipality of Princeton, and New Jersey American Water.

For several years now, we have struggled under a disheartening load of vandalism at the Refuge, which has strained our straightened budget and cost our volunteers much wasted effort. Trail markers have repeatedly been pulled down as soon as they were put up (resulting in complaints from visitors that they are unable to follow the trails). Signs have been vandalized.

When we lay out changes to our trails, the flags indicating the new route are removed before we can do the work to move the trail.

In February, after we refurbished the Refuge bulletin board, it was torn apart in less than a week, leaving us with no posters and only a pile of Plexiglas shards.

Even so small a touch as a single small flag indicating the best place to watch for the Refuge’s famous red-headed woodpecker (who has a favorite tree) has been removed repeatedly.

It appears to us that this vandalism is a concerted campaign by somebody in the community who disapproves of our stewardship of the Refuge. If this is the case, we would very much like to discuss the matter. I can be reached by email at lee.c.varian@me.com or by telephone at (609) 924-7031.

People who are interested in the Refuge can join our email list by sending email to listserv@princeton.edu, making the body of the mail SUB RogersRefuge plus your full name.

Lee Varian
Chair, Friends of Rogers Refuge
Gordon Way