Wildlife

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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Virginia Opossum, Petunia, sneaking between two carved pumpkins. One pumpkin has the WMC Owl logo on it, and one has a snake carved in it.

Carving Pumpkins with Ambassadors

The Ambassador Team held their second annual pumpkin carving event last month. Since the ambassador volunteers primarily do their shifts individually or in pairs, social events are a great way to bond as a team…
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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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Falconer and Wildlife Medical Clinic volunteer, Sarah Spang, with a red-tailed hawk on the glove while out in the field hunting.

Welcome, Sarah Spang!

We would like to introduce you to a special volunteer that is currently helping us with some of our raptor training. Sarah is a licensed falconer that has brought some new training techniques to our…
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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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A photo of a North American Wetland. Water towards the bottom of the image with lily pads present and then taller grass and shrubs towards the middle of the image. Nice blue sky with fluffy clouds takes up the top of the image.

Wetland Birds

North American Wetlands North American wetlands are a sight to behold, with their crystal water reflecting the sun’s rays and the vibrant fish swimming beneath. The woven nests of pied-billed grebes, adorned with the leaves…
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