There are moments on a quiet trail when nature decides to surprise you.
While walking through Hartshorne Woods Park in Highlands, NJ, something caught my eye, barely moving, almost invisible, but alive. At first, I thought it was just a twig resting against a branch. Then it moved.
It turned out to be a stick insect, one of the most elusive creatures you can spot in New Jersey. Perfectly camouflaged and rarely seen, these walking sticks blend into their surroundings so well that most hikers never notice them.
Stick insects appear mostly in late summer through early fall, when the weather is warm and the trees are full. They spend their lives among the leaves, relying on stillness and disguise to stay hidden. Seeing one in Hartshorne Woods feels almost unreal, like nature revealing a secret for just a moment.
If you are hiking the trails in Highlands this season, slow down and take a closer look at what is around you. You might see something you have never noticed before.
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