Grounded but not Defeated: An Owl’s Recovery Journey

Arrival and Initial Concerns On August 31, 2025, the Wildlife Medical Clinic received an adult Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) that had been found grounded and unable to fly. Upon intake, the owl was in thin body condition and demonstrated ocular abnormalities–most notably, aqueous flare in both eyes. This clinical sign indicates there is inflammation […]

White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

Bats of Illinois Illinois is home to a confirmed 13 different bat species who are all insectivores. Despite their feared reputation for carrying diseases such as rabies and feeding on blood, these bats are crucial ecologically and economically as they provide natural pest control, reducing insect pests for crops and saving farmers billions in pesticide […]

When a Shell, Isn’t Just a Shell

Intake At the beginning of October, the Wildlife Medical Clinic welcomed a Painted Turtle brought in by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator from Illinois. Sadly, this patient had been the victim of a common — and often underestimated — threat to our native turtle populations: vehicle collision. Many people are surprised to learn that when a […]

Ambassador Animals To The Rescue

On February 5, 2026, a juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk presented to the Wildlife Medical Clinic emaciated and with a depressed mentation, not able to hold itself up or stand properly. Due to the clinical signs at the initial exam, we placed an intraosseous catheter – this means it was placed directly into a bone in the […]

Wildlife Medical Clinic
Email: noliver@illinois.edu