The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is one of six subspecies of the Common Box Turtle and is found in the eastern United States. Eastern Box Turtles are mainly terrestrial turtles that live in areas of high vegetation and are close to small rivers or streams. Box turtles get their name from their hinged […]
Invasive species are estimated to cost North America $26 billion dollars per year since 2010. From plants like common teasel and buckthorn to animals like the Burmese python and lionfish, the damage that has been caused to our native ecosystems is extreme. While steps have been taken to mitigate these damages and prevent further spread […]
Secondary Rodenticide Poisoning in Raptors It is a quick fix many homeowners use when facing a rodent problem: setting out a few bait stations filled with tasty poison. What most don’t realize is that these poisons do not work instantly. The target mouse or rat may live for days after consuming the bait, becoming slow, […]
What is Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)? Canine Distemper Virus is a highly contagious and often fatal virus that can affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of animals. These locations make sense when considering these are all systems that contain rapidly-dividing cells, which the virus loves to replicate in. You may have also heard of […]
Follow WMC Program Coordinator, Sydney Oliveira, to learn about pollinators, why they are so important, and what you can do to help support them.
Every day, the Wildlife Medical Clinic receives numerous calls from concerned community members about animals that appear sick or injured outside. Many of those people attempt to capture the injured wildlife, so they can be seen and treated at the Wildlife Medical Clinic. However, did you know that there are certain species you should use […]
Observation and Diagnostic Tools When a good Samaritan brings in a Great horned owl that cannot fly or a lethargic Eastern box turtle with no apparent physical injuries to the Wildlife Medical Clinic, how do we determine what is going on with these patients? That’s where the problem-solving aspect of our work comes into play. […]
Follow WMC Program Coordinator, Sydney Oliveira, on CiLiving and see if you can answer a few trivia questions regarding common misconceptions about orphaned wildlife.
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 […]
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 […]