Cases

A Great Horned Owl in a hospital enclosure.

The Rehabilitation of one Lucky, Unlucky Great Horned Owl.

Presentation to the Wildlife Medical Clinic Bright and early on a Sunday morning, a good Samaritan made an over hour long drive to bring an injured Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, to the WMC. The…
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An Eastern Cottontail in a hospital enclosure.

2024 Year in Review

Happy New Year! Wildlife Medical Clinic has successfully closed our 2024 chapter and opened our door to 2025. We are grateful for the support from our community, professional colleagues, fellow wildlife rehabilitators, student volunteers, and…
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Red-Tailed Hawk Case

Juvenile red-tailed hawk 24-2042 arrived on September 14 with an ulnar (wing) fracture and ocular (eye) trauma. We provided pain relief medications, topical eye drops, and managed the ulnar fracture with a figure-8 bandage. Once…
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A common snapping turtle in a hide under water.

Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

What is Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NHSP)? Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP) is unfortunately a common type of metabolic bone disease that can occur in any animal but is most often seen in reptiles and amphibians. This…
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Red-tailed hawk stands on a squirrel it caught.

Taking Time to Digest

Arrival of Red-Tailed Hawk 24-2154 While the patients presenting to the Wildlife Medical Clinic are typically injured or ill in some shape or form, we do sometimes receive patients that are clinically healthy. This was…
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A "quiet zone" yellow sign on a door.

Reducing Stress in Wildlife Medicine

Fear Free Approach In recent years, many veterinary practices have shifted towards a new approach to helping animals feel safe and secure in the clinic. These techniques, called “Fear Free”, aim to decrease stress and…
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Barred Owl wildlife patient in a hospital enclosure ready for transfer to a licensed rehabilitator for continued care before release back to the wild.

Eye-Opening Insights: A Barred Owl Case Update

Barred owl Information The barred owl (Strix varia) is a larger owl species found in North America. They are part of the family Strigidae, known as the “true owl family.” These brown-gray owls are native…
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Great Horned Owl patient in the Wildlife Medical Clinic. This photo was the initial picture taken when they arrived at the clinic.

The Journey Back to the Wild

Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus The great horned owl, Bubo virginianus, is found across the majority of North America. Here in Illinois, they are found across the entire state. They are very adaptable and can…
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Dr. Erica Bender and Tyson Jenkins, senior manager and student class of 2026 work to radiograph a Bald Eagle patient. The eagle is on its back and laying on the x-ray plate, with a tail guard over its tail. Tyson and Erica are positioning it for x-rays while wearing large raptor gloves to safely handle this patient.

Welcome Back to the New Academic Year!

As the summer draws to a close, we are overjoyed to welcome our talented students back to the clinic. The clinic has been working tirelessly to update and revamp our volunteer offerings by bringing in…
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Summer clinical intern Rachel restrains a mother Virginia Opossum on an exam table, while wearing a pair of leather glove. At the end of the table is a small clear carrier that is full of baby Virginia Opossum waiting to be re-united with mom after her exam.

Summer Interns and Their Favorite Cases

Summer is the busiest season in the Wildlife Medical Clinic! To ensure we provide quality care and support to our patients, our summer interns have been putting their whole heart into caring for our wildlife…
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