Noteworthy items are highlighted below.
All links in our digital newsletter are clickable.
Click the year below to see Woodlands in the news, year end review videos, highlights of that year, and the newsletter archive.
2022: Year in review video
2021: Year in review video
2020: Year in review video
2019: New Jersey Nature Conservancy Partnership, 2019 year in review video
Woodlands Wildlife Refuge is proud to announce our important partnership with New Jersey Nature Conservancy. See the full story and watch three videos highlighting how our organizations are working together to save New Jersey’s Wildlife by clicking here
Baby bobcat was orphaned, on verge of death. Now, he has a second shot at life. – NJ.com Article
Rob Jennings – NJ.com April 24th, 2019
2018: Year in review video
2017: Year in review video
2017: Otter release, Bobcat release
Bobcat Released!
Endangered Bobcat Released To The Wild
Rana Novini – NBC-4
March 29, 2017
State releases bobcat into Wawayanda in West Milford
Richard Cowen- Bergen Record
March 29, 2017
Rehabilitated bobcat released to the wilds of Wawayanda
Bruce Scruton – New Jersey Herald
March 29, 2017
http://www.njherald.com/20170329/rehabilitated-bobcat-released-into-wilds-of-wawayanda
Bobcat roams free after being struck by a car and saved by surgery
Rob Jennings – NJ.com
March 29, 2017
Bobcat released back into the Jersey wild after being hit by a car
Dan Alexander – NJ101.5
March 29, 2017
http://nj1015.com/bobcat-released-back-into-the-jersey-wild-after-being-hit-by-car
Bobcat struck by vehicle released into the wild in North Jersey
Daniel Hubbard – Patch.com
March 29, 2017
http://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/bobcat-struck-vehicle-released-wild-north-jersey
2016: Bobcat kitten update, Jewel’s new enclosure, Year in review video
2016: Tracy Leaver honored as Leading Women Brand Builder
Tracy Leaver, founder and executive director of Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, was honored as a Leading Women Brand Builder by the Leading Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners (LWE) at a dinner in Somerset on Oct. 17.
11/19/16 – Woodlands Refuge founder honored – My Central Jersey
2015: Year in review video
2015: Bald Eagle shot in Pittstown, Second Chance: The Story of Mike the orphaned bear cub, Statements regarding the bi-pedal bear in New Jersey
American bald eagle shot in Pittstown, Hunterdon County, NJ. Information sought. Reward offered.
This American bald eagle was found right near Woodlands Wildlife Refuge (WWR) and was not moving from a tree in a nearby residence for days. The Raptor Trust (TRT) called on WWR to try to help capture so we supported in any way we could! It was obvious the bird had an injured leg, but it wasn’t coming down from that tree to be helped! After the 3rd day, and with the help to capture from Avian Wildlife Center, TRT was able to get this bird for rehabilitation! It was later found that the bird had been shot.
Woodlands Documentary
We are pleased to announce that the documentary about Woodlands which has been in the works for the past 8 months has just been published! This documentary highlights the special story of “Mike and Ike” the bears and the work done at Woodlands Wildlife Refuge. For us it is cathartic and it will always amaze us what a difference a single animal can make. Many thanks to Andre and his fine work and to the rest of the NJ Advance Media and NJ.com team. Your dedication to this project is truly appreciated.
Statements regarding the bi-pedal bear in North Jersey
Woodlands Statement – Click Here
Fish and Wildlife Statement – Click Here
2015: Mike the bear cub story and updates , 2014 Year in review video, In memory of Grace
In Memory of Mike – click here to visit Mike’s Memorial Page
NJ.com Bear Cub News Coverage
4/2/15- 3 Month Update: Click Here
Three Week Update:
Read the full cub cam article here on NJ.com
Click here to read the original story on NJ.com!
Other 2015 Bear Cub News Coverage:
2/3/15 – Lehigh Valley Live- Bear cub orphaned in Allamuchy State Park hunting accident dies
2/4/15 – A Live Cam Is Now Documenting A 4 Week Old Bear Cub – Buzzfeed
2/5/15- Huntsville News, WAAY and ABC 21 News – Live cam of cute orphaned bear cub
2/6/15- Cancel Your Weekend Plans For A Livestream of a Newborn Cub- MASHABLE
Thank you for a wonderful year!
In Memory of Grace
2002-2014
Click here to visit her memorial donation page & to read Grace’s story
2014: Lady Jane explores her new enclosure, black bears having fun video
Lady Jane Canadian Lynx Explores Her New Enclosure For The First Time!
YOU made this possible through last year’s Gala Cat House donation challenge!
2013: Year in review video
2013: Tracy Leaver honored with Women & Wildlife Inspiration Award
Woodlands Wildlife Refuge is proud to announce that its founder and Executive Director, Tracy Leaver, received the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ’s Women & Wildlife Inspiration Award on Dec. 4.
2012: Broke Leg Bear book wins award, NJ wildlife second chance article
Alexandria Township’s Woodlands Wildlife Refuge announces ‘Broke Leg Bear’ book wins award – December 1st, 2012- Hunterdon County Democrat
“N.J. wildlife refuge gives injured, orphaned animals a second chance”- Aug 14, 2012- Hunterdon County Democrat
May 2012: Many thanks to The Record! Click Here to read the story regarding a yearling (18 month old) bear.
Click Here to read the Suburban Trends article featuring the release of our latest endangered bobcat, “Tina”! See the release video here!
2011: Woodlands featured in Courier News
December 18th, 2011
Many thanks to Courier News! Click Here to read the front page story featuring Woodlands Wildlife Refuge!
2010: 8 bear cubs in rehabilitation
In October, all 8 bears were moved to the large bear enclosure to continue their journey toward release in the spring. The bear that suffered a bad concussion was determined completely healed and functional in December. It was a great day when we watched as he ran and climbed a tree after some of the other bears!
All of them are denning in the same den. It must be very cozy in there. This winter’s snow storms have given these bears something to sleep through as well as play in! Watching yearling bears romp and roll in the snow is just too funny. They must do it in the wild as well. As one person said while watching, “If they could make and throw snowball I am sure they would!”
These 8 bears will be released in the early summer to start again, their lives in the wild as wild bears. We truly appreciate everyone’s support in caring for the bears.
2009: 8 Bear cubs arrive for care, bear releases
In a mere 5 weeks we have once again received 8 orphaned bear cubs to care for!
One is from an unknown reason, as the cub was observed wandering Motherless throughout neighborhoods in northern Jersey.
One fell 27 feet inside a hollow tree. Its Mother tried for three days to dig him out until rescuers
cut a hole for him. Unfortunately, Mom never returned.
One was found lying in the road after being hit by a car and suffering from serious heat trauma.
After five days of unconsciousness this little one is back on his feet and slowly regaining all of his senses.
Two are siblings of a Mother that had to be destroyed after repeatedly breaking into a garage.
Three siblings were brought to us after their Mother was killed by a car.
As always, it is only through the support of a very generous public that can continue the work we do for New Jerseys Wildlife.
Read about Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in our Fall/Winter 2011 Newsletter below!
Also, please click on the links below for press coverage that the 2008 black bear
release events received!
“Woodlands prepares for bear release” – May 28, 2008 The Record Online (video)
“2 bears released back in the wild” – May 29, 2008 The Star Ledger (story)
“Back into the wild” – May 29, 2008 The Star Ledger (video)
“Orphan bear cubs released into wild in NJ” – May 29, 2008 WNBC New York (video)
“Bears go wild”- May 29, 2008 The Record Online (video)
“2 bear cubs that spent past year in refuge released” – May 29, 2008
Associated Press (story)
2008: Bears move to new enclosure, bear necessities
January 2008
The Bears Have Moved Into Their New Cage!
Click here to see photos of their big day at Woodlands!
Bear Enclosure Stories!
Please click on the links below to check out the news stories as regarding the bears and the cage enclosure build in 2008.
“Orphaned Bear Cubs Move to New Habitat” – The Advertiser-News
“Orphaned Bear Cubs Get Bigger Digs” – NorthJersey.com (The Record)
“Providing bear necessities” – The Star-Ledger
“Ten bears need bear necessities” (with video!) – ABC News Story
“Big bears, once little orphans, strain nonprofit’s resources” – Newhouse News Service
“Orphaned bear cubs to be released” – NorthJersey.com (The Record)
2007: Bear cub updates, A Thanksgiving bobcat
The Bear Update
The bear cubs that arrived in June have grown a lot and are doing very well. We recently moved Wicked (the first bear that arrived in May) with “Broke Leg Bear” and they are both quite happy! This is very good for Broke Leg Bear as she has not been with another bear since her injury in June. Her recovery from a serious leg repair surgery took quite some time. She is moving pretty well now and there are few doubts she will be strong enough for release in the spring. Click here for photos and story of “Broke Leg Bear”.
The new bear enclosure so many of you generously donated towards is almost complete! This large construction project got started just this month after many delays. The wonderful out pouring of volunteer help to make this happen in record time has been magical. We are expecting to move the bears into their new home very soon. Click here for photos of the 10 bear cubs including photos of the bear enclosure project!
The bears are all doing great and thanks to ALL of you who have already donated generously. We really need these funds…so please keep them coming!
A Bobcat at Woodlands!
Thanksgiving week brought us a badly injured bobcat. She had been struck by a car and took the full force in the face. Here injuries included several broken teeth, a badly lacerated tongue and a bottom lip just about torn off. To make it even worse she had a deep puncture wound above her tail and was suffering from a bad concussion. A quick emergency trip to the Clinton Perryville Animal Hospital and a few x-rays later amazingly showed no additional injuries or fractures. Dr. Niebojeski pulled remaining tooth fragments from her lip and sutured it back into place. After a few days of a soft diet (not easy to convince a bobcat to eat) she began to be able to bite small amounts of harder food. Within 10 days she was eating her regular food and behaving in more normal fashion. We are happy to say that she has been moved to an outdoor enclosure and will be released soon. Having the opportunity to help one of NJ’s endangered species is truly a wonderful experience. See her before and after photos here!
For a copy of news stories about the orphaned bear cubs, please click the links below:
The Advertiser News (6/15/2007)
The Bergen Record (6/27/2007)
The Express Times (6/12/2007)
Hunterdon Democrat (6/14/2007)
The Star-Ledger (6/9/2007)
TV Jersey Story (6/19/2007)
WABC News Story (6/7/2007)
For an informative brochure published by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection about living with bears in New Jersey, click here.
Please note working with almost 600 wild animals a year and preparing them for release prevents us from being open to public visits. Please continue to check our web site for updates on these precious cubs as well as other wild comings and goings on at Woodlands.
Everyone at Woodlands greatly appreciates your support and generosity.
Newsletter Archive– click on the year below