Ambassador Animals

Current Ambassadors

Our ambassadors consist of birds, reptiles, an amphibian, and a mammal at the clinic. Most of our ambassadors were initially admitted as patients and were treated with the intent of release into the wild. Unfortunately, there is a physical or behavioral issue that is preventing them from making a full recovery. Since they cannot fully recover, they are not able to be released back into the wild. Although they live in the clinic and are tolerant of people, these resident animals are not pets. They now serve as ambassadors of their species and help us educate the public about wildlife, conservation, and ecosystem health.

Basil

Species: American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) Intake Date: October 28, 2024 Basil is our resident American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus). He came to us on October 28, 2024, after being found in Meadowbrook Park…
Caduceus

Species: Brazilian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria) Intake Date: January 23, 2023 Caduceus is our resident Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria). She was a pet that was donated to the College of Veterinary…
Clover

Species: American kestrel (Falco sparverius) Intake Date: July 1, 2023 Clover is our resident American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) and she was transferred to the Wildlife Medical Clinic on July 1, 2023, from…
Hazel

Species: Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Intake Date: February 10, 2017 Hazel is our resident Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina). She was brought into the clinic on February 10, 2017.…
Loki

Species: Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Intake Date: May 21, 2025 Loki, one of our male resident Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), arrived at the Wildlife Medical Clinic on May 21, 2025 from another…
Maize

Species: Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) Intake Date: March 31, 2024 Maize is our resident Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus). She came to us on March 31, 2024. She was a former pet that…
Odin

Species: Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Intake Date: August 15, 1997 Odin is one of our resident male Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and he was found in Fairbury, Illinois. He presented to the…
Pesto

Species: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) Intake Date: September 2, 2025 Pesto, our resident Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), was brought to the Wildlife Medical Clinic as a neonate orphan on September 2, 2025.…
River

Species: Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Intake Date: March 15, 2015 River, our resident Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), was transferred to the Wildlife Medical Clinic from Wildlife Prairie Park on the morning of…
Ruby

Species: Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Intake Date: 2018 Ruby, our female resident Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), was found in 2018 walking up to people begging for food and then taking food from…
Whittington

Species: Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) Intake Date: May 31, 2025 Whittington is our resident Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) and he arrived to the Wildlife Medical Clinic from Illinois Raptor Center…

In Loving Memory of our Past Ambassadors

Bucket

Species: Ball python (Python regius) Intake Date: 2016 Bucket retired as our resident Ball Python (Python regius) ambassador in January of 2023. She is a non-native species that was donated to our…
Delphine

Species: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) Intake Date: September 2017 Delphine, our resident Virginia Opossum was found in Urbana, IL. She presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic in September 2017 after a well-intentioned…
Derby

Species: Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) Intake Date: March, 2015 Derby, our resident Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio), was a beloved member of our ambassador program after being transferred to the Wildlife…
Mikey

Species: Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) Intake Date: 2015 Mikey was an incredible addition to our Education and Outreach Program this past year. During his time with us, Mikey traveled to many PR…
Noel

Species: Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) Intake Date: December 5, 2006 Noel, our resident Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus), was a wonderful member of our ambassador program for nearly 10 years. She…
Nokomis

Species: Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) Intake Date: April 2003 Nokomis was a wonderful addition to our Education and Outreach Program for 12 years. During his time with us, Nokomis taught a…
Onslo

Species: Blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua) Intake Date: March, 2015 Onslo, our resident Blue-Tongued Skink (Tiliqua), is one of our reptile and non-native residents. Onslo’s previous owner was Rose Ann Meccoli, who worked in…
Patty

Species: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) Intake Date: 2021 Patty was our Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) ambassador animal. She was found as a joey in 2020 and cared for by a well-meaning individual…
Petunia

Species: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) Intake Date: May 18, 2022 Petunia, our late resident Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), arrived at the Wildlife Medical Clinic from Champaign, IL on May 18, 2022, as…
Thistle

Species: American kestrel (Falco sparverius) Intake Date: Summer 2012 Thistle was our resident American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), found in Allerton, Ill. She was presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic as a juvenile…