Flora and Fauna
The Hatfield Swamp floods several times a year, from heavy rain, snow melt in spring, or hurricanes passing through the area. The area is the joining point of three rivers. Due to the flooding, this makes it a difficult place to live for mammals such as deer, raccoons, possums, skunks and fox to live. Most of these animals live on the fringes of the swamp where the ground is higher.
Muskrats are low in population in the swamp due to several factors. The first is the flooding of the area which fills bank dens with water. The second is the lack of plant foods that the muskrats eat. The third is water pollution, as the three rivers that were once highly polluted has gotten better, however pollutants remain in the soil and water.
Waterfowl that pass through he area in the autumn stop and rest in the swamp before proceeding south.
Fish that inhabit the Rockaway River and Whippany River is carp and catfish.
The area has a northern deciduous forest consisting of various oaks, maples, sweet gum, and elm. Most trees are from six to ten inches (254 mm), with some going to twenty inches. Due to the constant flooding makes it difficult for hardwood trees to grow.
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