In 1951, Jim and Betty Woodford bought 185 acres in what was then the largely undeveloped Medford Township, New Jersey, hoping to create a summer retreat. But the land became the foundation for a lifelong commitment to wildlife. According to the Cedar Run website, the couple soon fell in love with the Pinelands and chose to make the property their permanent home. Six years later, they had built a house overlooking the lake and established the ‘Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.’ The turning point came when a local resident brought Betty an injured ‘Great Horned Owl’ and asked whether she could help. That single bird opened the door to a much larger mission. Over the following decades, the Woodfords devoted themselves in establishing a refuge, teaching others about nature and caring for wild animals that needed help and renewed hope.
How did a summer retreat in 1951 become Cedar Run Wildlife refuge
The Woodfords initially purchased the 185-acre property simply as a place to escape to during the summer. The area offered something very different from a developed holiday destination like open land, a lake and the natural landscape of New Jersey’s Pinelands. But the property quickly became more than a seasonal getaway. Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge explains in its history that Jim and Betty loved the Pinelands and eventually decided to live there full-time. By 1957, they had built their first home overlooking the lake and formally established Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. Their new life was closely connected to the surrounding natural world. Betty, in particular, developed a deep knowledge of the plants and animals of the Pinelands. She eventually became known as a botanist, naturalist, nature photographer and wildlife rehabilitator.
Incident with the injured owl changed the destiny of the refuge
The story of Cedar Run’s wildlife rehabilitation work began with a single injured bird. A local resident brought an injured Great Horned Owl to Betty Woodford and asked if she could help. The encounter became a defining moment for the couple and the property. Rather than treating the owl as an isolated case, Betty began developing a commitment to helping wild animals in need. What started with one bird gradually became an important part of Cedar Run’s identity.The Woodfords spent the next four decades working in wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education and Pinelands preservation. Betty’s growing knowledge of local wildlife also allowed her to teach other people about the natural world around them. The story is amazing because there was no grand plan at the beginning. A summer property became a permanent home, and an injured owl helped turn that home into a place dedicated to wildlife.
How did the Woodfords build their legacy
For Jim and Betty, protecting animals was closely linked to protecting the land they depended on. Cedar Run’s history states that Betty became particularly well known for her Pinelands education programmes, sharing her knowledge with people who wanted to understand the plants and animals around them. The refuge eventually developed beyond the original property and the couple’s personal efforts. JerseyMan Magazine reports that Cedar Run became a ‘non-profit organisation’ in 1982 and expanded its facilities. A major step came in 1997, when a ‘Green Acres grant’ helped preserve Cedar Run’s land and buildings for future generations. This was the realisation of the Woodfords’ ultimate dream of ensuring the place they had built could continue serving people and wildlife long after their own lives.
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Woodford. Image Credit: Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge
What does Cedar Run look like today
The refuge has grown considerably from the 185-acre summer retreat purchased in 1951. JerseyMan reports that Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge now comprises 171 acres of preserved land within the Pinelands National Reserve. It includes a Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital, the Woodford Nature Center, hiking trails, a summer camp and environmental education programmes. The organisation also continues the work that began with Betty and the injured owl.According to Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, its licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital sees around 7,000 animals each year, while its nature and STEM-based education programmes reach more than 20,000 students and Scouts annually. The animals that visitors can see include hawks, owls, foxes and other wildlife that cannot be returned to the wild because of injuries. The refuge therefore serves two purposes of caring for animals that need permanent protection and helping people understand the habitats those animals depend upon.
How has one couple’s idea continued through generations
The Woodfords’ original vision has also remained a family legacy. Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge says that staff and board members continue Jim and Betty’s work alongside their daughter, Jeanne. JerseyMan reports that Jeanne Woodford serves as board president, while a wider team of staff and volunteers helps operate the organisation. This community involvement reflects how far the original idea has travelled. The injured Great Horned Owl may have been only one animal, but its arrival changed the direction of the Woodfords’ lives. It became a lasting reminder that sometimes a major conservation story can begin with a small act of compassion toward one animal.
