We are a small team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. We look forward to working with you.
Tracy Leaver
Executive Director
Tracy is founder and Executive Director of Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, Inc. Finally giving in to her lifelong passion for wildlife, she left her former profession and started Woodlands in 1986. Woodlands began with the care of two raccoons and now cares for close to 2000 animals annually.
Her accomplishments on behalf of Woodlands Wildlife Refuge include the following: implementing the first black bear rehabilitation and release program in New Jersey resulting in the care and release of over 100 bears. The program’s success has gained national and international interest. She also implemented the first bobcat rehabilitation and release program in New Jersey resulting in the care and release of over 35 bobcats. As the Executive Director she serves on the Board of Trustees.
Tracy was a founding member, served on the board for many years, and is currently an advisor to the New Jersey Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators.
She served as a Board Member and Chair of the Standards Committee of the National Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Association.
Tracy was recognized in the publication: “Notable Women Throughout the History of Hunterdon County” by the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission for her work with Woodlands Wildlife Refuge.
She was appointed to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Advisory Committee and currently serves on that committee.
Tracy has received the Women in Wildlife Inspiration Award from New Jersey’s Conserve Wildlife Foundation.
Tracy has attended and presented at national and international wildlife conferences. In her free time Tracy enjoys being a hot air balloon pilot. She also enjoys gardening and working in the dirt.
Melissa Anahory
Development & Outreach Manager
Melissa Anahory is currently the Development & Outreach Manager at Woodlands Wildlife Refuge. She visited her first wildlife rehabilitation facility at a young age and fell in love with the profession as a teenager. She has been in the field of wildlife rehabilitation since 2008. Melissa graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in Natural Resource Management and Ecology, and has always had a passion for wildlife rehabilitation. She became involved with Woodlands when she was an intern at the refuge in the summer of 2008, and has consistently been involved with the refuge ever since, joining the staff team in 2010 & earning her rehabilitation license in 2013.
As the Development & Outreach Manager, Melissa attends and represents the refuge at outreach events and does the educational programs. Some of her other responsibilities include grant writing, social media management, hotline calls, and as one of the licensed rehabilitators, animal care.
She has been a dedicated volunteer board member of the New Jersey Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators since 2011, spanning many roles as the former President, and current board member serving on several committees. In her free time she enjoys the hobby of geocaching and gaming.
Heather Freeman
Wildlife Program Director
Heather Freeman is the Wildlife Program Director at Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, where she also serves as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Her journey in wildlife rehabilitation began in 2006 as a dedicated volunteer at Woodlands while she pursued her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and completed her military service. In 2011, Heather officially joined the Woodlands staff, earning her rehabilitation license in 2013.
With extensive training and experience, Heather specializes in rehabilitating New Jersey’s native mammals and herptiles, including rabies vector species and potentially dangerous animals like black bears, bobcats, and venomous snakes. She excels in a wide range of skills, including animal nutrition, feeding and husbandry, and critical care techniques such as fluid therapy, wound care, and turtle shell repair.
As the Wildlife Program Director, Heather is proficient in managing, scheduling, and training volunteers and interns. She has been a dedicated volunteer board member of the New Jersey Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators since 2012, serving as the former Treasurer and current Vice President since 2022. Additionally, Heather has represented reptiles on the New Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitators Advisory Committee since 2017.
An experienced speaker, Heather has presented at numerous wildlife rehabilitation conferences, including the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium, the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Counsel Symposium, and the Wildlife Center of Virginia’s “Call of the Wild” Conference. Outside of her professional endeavors, Heather is the proud mother of two incredible children, whom she hopes will carry on her passion for wildlife rehabilitation in the future.
Noah Kudish
Wildlife Clinic Assistant
Noah Kudish is the Wildlife Clinic Assistant at Woodland’s Wildlife Refuge. Noah graduated from Eckerd College in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Animal Studies and a minor in Environmental Studies. During his senior year, he had the opportunity to intern at a wildlife sanctuary, where he fell in love with animal care. After graduation, Noah gained experience working with livestock while living on a kibbutz in Israel for seven months.
Prior to joining Woodlands in September of 2025, Noah spent two years working at Mt.Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, NJ as an adoption counselor and a member of the kennel staff. As Wildlife Clinic Assistant, Noah assists in all animal-related tasks, including assessing new intakes and caring for the daily needs of the animals. Additionally, he helps answer phone calls and assists in the scheduling and admission of animal intakes. In his free time, Noah enjoys watching sports, gaming, live music, and scuba diving.