Here's a sampling of some exciting recent wildlife news:

• Pods of dolphins in Monmouth County are facing increased harassment (Home News Tribune, Aug. 7:
Harassment of wayward N.J. dolphins increasing)

• Coyotes becoming more common in Bergen County; Tenafly Nature Center hosts August 14 lecture (Bergen Record, Aug. 7: What would you do if you saw a coyote?)

• Barnegat Bay ecosystem focus of Pinelands summer camp (Asbury Park Press, Aug. 7: Environmental program encourages kids to notice surroundings)

• Many Hudson River fish species suffering  (The Journal News, Aug. 3: Fish species on the decline)

• Flounder is favorite of recreational fishermen  (Asbury Park Press, Aug. 3: Flounder fishery has impact on boating industry)

• 'Tis the season of migrating shorebirds (Star Ledger, Aug. 2: Avocets among shorebirds turning up in New Jersey.  Courtesy of New Jersey Audubon)

• VIDEO: Alligator knocks at basement door in Fair Lawn (NBC News, Aug. 1: 4-foot Alligator Found in N.J. basement). 

• Fox News, Aug. 1: Alligator startles New Jersey woman outside home

• Herald News, Aug. 1: Woman thought alligator was fake

• August in the Great Swamp offers nature events for the whole family (Independent Press, July 30: Naturalists guide visitors of all ages into the Great Swamp this August) 

• Project Wildbird asks for your help with national backyard bird count (Star Ledger, July 30: Keeping track of birds in the yard)

• Snake-like bowfin fish caught in Pennsville (Today's Sunbeam, July 29: Fish quite a strange catch)