There are over 40 species of snakes found in Illinois. Their habitat range includes grasslands, swamps, ponds, lakes, forests, and rivers. Illinois is home to both venomous and nonvenomous snakes. To clarify, venomous is not the same as poisonous. A venomous animal injects toxins by biting or stinging their prey, while poisonous animals refer to […]
Wildlife photography is more than just sitting in the woods with your camera, hoping that something cool will walk past for you to photograph. There’s a whole different aspect to it that not many realize. It takes planning, knowledge of the environment around you, early mornings, and a LOT of patience. To me, there’s no […]
In March of this year, a snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic with an injury to his left wing. This is a rare species to be seen in Illinois, with only six having been admitted to the WMC in the last 10 years! When migrating south from the Arctic Circle, it […]
Happy Mother’s Day to all the special critters we see at the Wildlife Medical Clinic and to all the human mothers that bring in these special critters for us to see. Did you know that baby animals tend have different names based on the species? Here is an incomplete list of some of the younger […]
Did you know? There are over 15,000 species of butterflies around the world, and about 750 butterfly species here in the United States! Butterflies come in a multitude of colors, which is created by the reflection of light through layers of thousands of microscopic scales that cover their wings. Here is a fun craft you […]
There are many native species of turtles found in Illinois. Arguably, one of the most memorable species that presents to the Wildlife Medical Clinic (WMC) is the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Snapping turtles are a freshwater species, range in coloration from tan to dark brown, and have characteristic spiked tails. The WMC cares for […]
Here at the Wildlife Medical Clinic, we take digital radiographs, or x-rays, when we want to examine patients of all species and sizes. Radiographs are images of the body used to evaluate internal structures like organs and bones. When injured turtles or other chelonians come to us after encountering a car, lawn mower, dog, or […]
An adult female Eastern box turtle (Terrapene Carolina) was presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic (WMC) in October for potential blindness. On exam, the turtle was found to have several abnormalities, including eyelids that were swollen shut, ocular discharge, swollen ears, nasal discharge, and wounds near the rear legs. She was started on a detailed […]
This adult male American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic in late November. The finders had been watching him on a local lake for the summer and were concerned that he couldn’t fly. When he failed to migrate south in the fall, they knew he was in trouble & brought him […]
As the snow melts and temperatures increase, Illinois will once again become alive with the sights, scents, and sounds of spring. Hibernating animals will emerge, butterflies and bees will be busy at work collecting pollen, and the musical tunes of songbirds will fill the air. Here are some things you can do outside your home […]