If you find an injured wild bird or other wild animal, your first response is to help. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. Unless you are a trained and licensed animal rehabilitator, any action you take may endanger the animal as well as yourself. Moreover, you may be in violation of Federal or state wildlife management laws. Here are some resources within the Chicago Metropolitan Area that may be useful for you.
Please be sure to call these facilities for advice PRIOR to attempting a rescue!
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors are an all volunteer, hands-on conservation effort for migratory birds. CBCM works to rescue birds injured from striking buildings and to mitigate the risks of bird-building collisions by educating the public and working with building managers and architects to find solutions. For more information, www.birdmonitors.net .
If you find an injured bird call the CBCM hotline at (773) 988-1867
Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation (Cook and Lake Counties)
Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation is a state and federally licensed facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife with the goal of returning fully rehabilitated wildlife to its natural habitat. Flint Creek promotes respect for wildlife and wildlife habitats through public education programs. Flint Creek also supports efforts to repopulate endangered and threatened wildlife species.
Flint Creek Wildlife currently operates its main facility from a property along Flint Creek in the greater Barrington, Illinois area. Flint Creek is seeking a larger property that will support its longer term growth.
Flint Creek Wildlife has a satellite facility in downtown Chicago at Northerly Island (formerly Meigs Field) and a full-service facility in Itasca at the Spring Brook Nature Center.
Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation. Flint Creek Wildlife does not receive government funding and is entirely dependent on public donations. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed under law.
They can be contacted at (847) 842-8000. For more information see their website www.flintcreekwildlife.org.
Fox Valley Wildlife Center (Kane County)
The Fox Valley Wildlife Center is a private, not-for-profit organization in Elburn, Illinois, that cares for orphaned and injured wildlife. The FVWC is state and federally licensed, and is the only rehabilitation center in Kane County. We provide hospital care for wild animals who need help and have been impacted by man in some way. Our goal is to release these animals back into the wild because they deserve a second chance.
Hours of Operation
April through September, we are open for animal intake from 9:00am-5:00pm every day.
October through March, we are open for animal intake from 8:00am-noon every day. They can be contacted (630) 365-3800. For more information, see their website at www.foxvalleywildlife.org.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center (DuPage County)
Willowbrook Wildlife Center is a wildlife rehabilitation and education center operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. Our goal is to provide rehabilitation to native and passing migrant wildlife of DuPage county and education on the biological and ecosystems current and native to this area. We achieve these goals through our rehabilitation facilities and educational staff.
Willowbrook is open 7 days a week (closed major holidays) and phones are answered between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM. They can be contacted at (630) 942-6200.
Their website is Willowbrook Wildlife Center.