About Us

The Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife serve the greater Northeast PA region. This includes, but not limited to Monroe, Northampton, Wayne, Lackawanna, Pike, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Lehigh, and Carbon County. Servicing over 10 counties, we are the only facility in PA to take in and rehab bears. Our staff and volunteers are the backbone to running this facility all year-round. The Wilderz are licensed by and work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the PA Fish & Boat Commission, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The Executive Directors, Janine and Susan, are both licensed rehabilitators who work closely with the public, municipalities, and other agencies to rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals, with the goal to release them back to the wild. Their unique approach to blending homeopathy and allopathy in treating animals has stood out amongst their peers and other rehabbers alike.

As a 501(c)(3), we rely solely on donations from individuals and businesses to drive our mission. The support that we receive from the community is essential to what we do. In turn, we strive to give back to the public through education and service.

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Our Mission:

Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release

We strive to serve our community and local wildlife. Not only is our goal to create a place for animals in need, but it is also to create a place that supports the relationships between humans and wildlife. We aspire to educate and guide the public towards a symbiotic relationship with the wildlife all around us.

Meet Our Team

Janine Tancredi

Executive Director

My passion is working with animals. I spent many years in domestic animal rescue and previously owned a social media marketing company. I have a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lehigh University, several years of clinic experience as a veterinary technician, and a PA Wildlife Rehabilitator license. My mission is to care for wild animals and educate the public on the importance of keeping our wildlife protected and respected.

Susan Downing

Executive Director

I started this journey with wildlife through Capture and Transport, rescuing animals and getting them the care they needed. I am an animal intuitive, Reiki Master and teacher, and a licensed PA wildlife rehabilitator. One of my missions in life is to create a symbiotic relationship between humans and wildlife through awareness and education.

Amber Tortorelli

Weekend Day Clinic Manager

As the Weekend Day Clinic Manager, I help coordinate the care and rehabilitation of wildlife. My identity as a Métis woman has helped shape my belief in the interconnectedness of all living beings— to care for an animal is to care for my sister. I’m currently working toward my state rehabilitator’s license to deepen my knowledge in this field.

During the week, I work as a children’s librarian, where I support young learners and (hopefully) foster a love of reading. My Master’s in Library and Information Science has given me a solid foundation for research and the management of information in both my library and wildlife care roles.

Ella Irwin

Staff Day-Shift Clinic Manager

I started at Pocono Wildlife in April of 2023. At that time I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. Now, in January of 2025, I am a day shift clinic manager, and have realized that wildlife rehabilitation is my passion and will be my life-long occupation. I have always been involved in caring for animals, saving cats, chickens, and small birds throughout my childhood. Wildlife rehabilitation allows me to continue this on a grander scale, helping to rehabilitate, rescue and release a range of native species, from field mice to bald eagles. My mission is to share my passion and love among the community and teach people the importance of cohabitation and conservation of our native species in Pennsylvania.

Jessica Metzgar

Assistant Rehabilitator / Cervid (Fawn) Specialist

I’ve always felt compelled to work with animals and first got involved with wildlife rehab as a part time volunteer when I was 16. I worked with domestic rescues for many years after and still occasionally do. When my son started volunteering at Pocono Wildlife back in 2022 I was reminded of just how much I missed it and happily jumped back in rehabbing squirrels and soon after took on hummingbirds. Now I’m also handling the rehabilitation for fawns and am genuinely happy to be involved with such an amazing facility.

Kathryn "Kat" Schuster

Clinic Manager

I started my career in wildlife in 2001 under the tutelage of Mary Jane Stretch, working at a well-established wildlife rehab center for 18 years. I am a licensed PA rehabilitator and am living the dream working every day with injured/orphaned wildlife. I love sharing and teaching volunteers and the public about our day-to-day. To facilitate in the Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release of our animals is a dream come true. love sharing my knowledge with volunteers and the public.

Sampson Metzgar

Full-Time Staff / Lead Avian Specialist

I am a licensed raptor rehabilitator, and have worked with birds my whole life, ranging from livestock birds (I have a pet chicken named Da Baby) and exotics to neonate songbirds and eagles. In the years that I have been with Pocono Wildlife, first as a volunteer, then staff and now as the lead avian specialist, I have greatly expanded my skill-set in the medical care, husbandry and training of birds, as well as in the care of the many other animals we see every day. I love the opportunities that I get with Pocono Wildlife, and the opportunity to be so involved first-hand in the care, rehabilitation and release of Pennsylvania wildlife.

Make a Donation

Phone

570-402-0223

Email

[email protected]

Address

1161 Cherry Drive,
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Pennsylvania Game Commission
833-742-9453

The Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
EIN 23-2524389