Paul D. "Pete" McLain knew the Barnegat Bay like no other and he worked tirelessly to educate others about its waters and wildlife...

by Tom Vassallo

With great sadness, FishinJersey.com has learned that Paul D. "Pete" McClain, an environmental hero to many in Ocean County, New Jersey, passed away on June 6, 2014.  The editors and staff at FishinJersey.com wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

McLain, "Pete" to almost all who knew him, passed away with his family at his side at 12:30 PM on June 6, 2014. He was a retired deputy director of the New Jersey State Division of Fish and Wildlife, and is a Barnegat Bay legend. McClain was well known for his work to restore the osprey and peregrine falcon populations in the state. He was instrumental in preserving thousands of acres of land as conservation areas. He was also a well known educator about the Barnegat Bay and a mentor for young biologists and researchers throughout the state.

Paul D. "Pete" McClain, an environmental hero to many in Ocean County, New Jersey, passed away on June 6, 2014.

McLain joined the New Jersey State Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife in 1951. He attended Cornell University where he volunteered in South Jersey doing research on Clapper Rails and waterfowl. In 1951, he joined the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife, where he spent 20 years as a waterfowl biologist covering the Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay. He was a staunch supporter of waterfowl and headed a research program on food and cover plants. McLain also participated in banding ducks in Tuckerton and it is said that he would attend every session of the Atlantic Waterfowl Council.

By 1974, he had risen to Deputy Director of the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife. He was instrumental in getting the Hensler family to donate one quarter of their land in Barnegat Bay, which enabled the state of New Jersey to purchase Sedge Island. Additionally, he was assisted in the development of the Trust for Natural Lands in conjunction with the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, enabling the trust to purchase the main sedge island from the Morrison family.

In 1985, Pete was awarded the Chevron Award that is given to the top four conservationists in the United States who contributed to National Wildlife Resources.

Pete also spent time as a guide at Sledge Island, guiding visitors on hunting trips. In 1985, he was awarded the Chevron Award that is given to the top four conservationists in the United States who contributed to National Wildlife Resources. He was also a 1995 Hurley Conklin Award winner. McLain retired from the Division of Fish and Game in 1987. However, he never retired from being an advocate for New Jersey's fish, game and wildlife.

Many "old-timers" in Ocean County may recall that Pete also had a radio show on WOBM-FM that highlighted New Jersey Hunting and Fishing reports. Many young sportsmen and women grew up listening to Pete on the radio in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Dr. Jim Merritt worked very closely with McLain. Merritt is now the program director at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center in the sedge islands off Island Beach State Park. He has said on many occasions that Pete was a mentor, hero and friend. Jim recalled his first meeting with McClain in a recent interview. It was a classic recollection of a true classic gentleman:

"I was taking a group of students out in the bay on a pontoon boat when this guy came roaring                 up the bay in a wooden garvey. He was standing up in the back and his dog was standing in the        front."
Merritt recalled that McLain asked him what he thought the salinity of the bay was right at that                 moment.
"I told him I didn't know," Merritt said. "Then he yelled back 'Of course you don't' and roared     away in his boat."

New Jersey hunters, anglers, fish, game and wildlife have indeed lost one of their truest friends in Pete. Please remember the contacts you may have had with him and celebrate his life and legacy. Each time you see an osprey dive for a fish, or a peregrine falcon perched in an old tree, thank and think of Paul D."Pete" McClain.