HawkTalk 12 | Wildlife Medical Clinic

Father’s Day

Today, June 18th, marks Father’s Day for the year of 2023. To celebrate all the dads, grandpas, uncles, and father-figures out there, we’d love to tell you about the amazing fathers in our avian wildlife species! In fact, for avian species, about 90% of species have fathers participating in parental care. Whether it be helping to build the nest, feed their mate, incubate the eggs, feed the young, or provide protection for their family, these birds are super dads.

Starting strong with an Illinois native, the great horned owl knows what’s best for his young. After the female owl lays her clutch of eggs (usually 2 or 3), male great horned owls will aid her in keeping the eggs warm and bringing her enough food to survive until the eggs hatch. Food can consist of multiple small meals or one, big feast, depending on the night and dad’s ability to catch prey. Occasionally, the female great horned owl will leave the nest to feed for herself, so the male will take her place and protect his future owl children from the dangers of predators, weather, and other unexpected situations. Now that’s commitment. Don’t worry, though, dad will use this time to perfect the best owl dad jokes around. After 28-35 days, the chicks should have successfully hatched, and father owl’s job becomes even more important. There are now even more mouths to feed! During this time, male owls continue to hunt for food and will deliver to the hungry, growing chicks and their mother. This will continue for several months, but the chicks will begin to leave the nest site at about five weeks of age. Once the chicks leave the nest, they will be ready for flight at ten weeks of age, but both parents will feed the chicks until they are several months old and self-sustaining in the wild. At this point, father owl bids his young farewell and looks forward to seeing them around the forest for years to come. Talk about a proud dad moment!

G’day mate! Our next species, the emu, comes to us all the way from Australia. Emu fathers are even more involved in raising their young than the great horned owls we talked about earlier! The first thing that an emu father must do is create a nest, which consists of digging a small crater into the ground and lining it with twigs and other items such as rocks for protection. Then, multiple females will lay eggs in the nest and leave dad in the dust! The male emu is now considered a single dad, raising not only his own chicks, but ‘adopted’ chicks from other pairs as well. If this doesn’t earn him a Dad of the Year award, I’m not sure what does! During this incubation period of about two months, the male emu will rarely leave the nest and can lose between one-third to one-half of his body weight. After hatching, the father emu will be responsible for teaching his chicks how to survive in the real world. They will learn how to find food and water, travel to new places, and which animals are friends and foes. Once the emu chicks are all grown up, the father emu’s work has come to an end. Next year, he will do it all over again. 

Let’s give it up for all the dads out there, human or bird, and all of the hard work that they do to raise their young and ensure that they are always kept safe. Be sure to share this article with friends and family so they can learn about these amazing birds.

Written by Jacob, Class of 2026

Case Report: Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are one of the most common hawks in North America, with a range that spans from Alaska to the tropical rainforests of Central America. You can often find them perching on fences and telephone poles, surveying their territory. While you may not have heard their calls in real life, you’ve definitely heard them in a movie theater. The call of a red-tailed hawk is the standard sound effect for most birds of prey in movies, especially bald eagles.

Here in Illinois, red-tailed hawks are year-round residents, choosing to stay put once winter comes. Back in January of 2023, an adult red-tailed hawk was brought to the clinic by a good Samaritan after being found on the side of a road in Champaign. The finder was able to catch and carry the hawk by wrapping it in a towel they had found on the road next to it. After bringing the hawk to the clinic, we were able to perform a triage exam. The hawk was dull and squinting, signs that can point to pain. We placed a raptor hood, a useful tool that covers a hawk’s eyes, calming them down to allow us to safely perform a thorough exam. This helped reduce his stress while we continued our exam, feeling the joints and bones of the wings and legs. The hawk’s right wing had an ulnar fracture, and several wounds were found. Additionally, we were able to feel bony changes on the left leg, indicating that the femur of the leg had fractured previously and was healing.

To get a better look at the bony changes we had felt in the right wing and left leg, we took radiographs of the hawk. The radiographs confirmed the ulnar fracture, also revealing that it had multiple bone fragments instead of a simple, clean break. The femur of the left leg was fractured in two locations but had since rejoined together and was healing well. The leg fracture was approximately a month older than the wing fracture, meaning this hawk had experienced two traumatic events in a short period of time and still had a zest for life!

Passive range of motion, often abbreviated as PROM, is a form of physical therapy in avian patients in which the wing is gently and repeatedly stretched to its normal limits while the patient is anesthetized. The angles for the maximum extension of the elbow and wrist are measured before and after performing PROM, allowing us to track how well the patient can spread their wings. Birds need a very specific range of motion to fly effectively, so it is important to maintain that range of motion after an orthopedic injury like this hawk had experienced. Regular PROM also provides the students working in the clinic plenty of opportunities to practice valuable veterinary skills such as anesthesia monitoring and placing wing wraps.

Over the course of eight weeks, we were able to see steady improvement in this patient. The final radiographic examination revealed that the various pieces of bone had bridged, and the wing was stable. This hawk was finally cleared for transfer to a rehabber, allowing it time to practice and improve its flying skills again before being released to the wild.

Written by Tyson, Class of 2026

Wildlife Enrichment

Patients at the clinic require little contact with people but benefit from mental stimulation while in our care.

Examples of enrichment might include stuffed Kongs or Hol-ee Roller Balls, frozen treats, paper bags or small boxes with shredded paper inside, and toilet paper roll enrichment items.

Wildlife Observation Guide Activity

Where can we find different wildlife species? Print out this activity and place these animals in their homes! Feel free to share your fully colored masterpieces with us on Facebook by tagging us at ‘Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois’.

Background Download

Wildlife Download

Illustrations by Grey D’Andrea, Class of 2026

Mothers Gone Wild!

The season of spring is known for a couple of aspects. It’s the time when flowers bloom, people begin to venture outside and wildlife give birth and raise their young. Being a mom in the wild is hard! In honor of Mother’s Day, here are several unique maternal strategies these local species have developed to keep their young safe and healthy.

Geese are great adoptive parents!

In humans, it’s important to remember that the term mother doesn’t always have to refer to someone that is biologically related. A mom can take the form of a grandma, a cousin, or a family friend. The same idea applies to Canada geese! Despite the aggressive perception that the public has of them, Canada geese are very caring and fantastic parents. A mother Canada goose will adopt an orphan gosling if it is around the same size as her other goslings and take care of it as if it was her own. Geese truly look out for each other! Goslings spend a lot of time with their mom, as they are constantly with her, traveling, eating and sleeping. In fact, goslings may end up staying with their mom for their entire first year of life. Mother geese will keep her babies under her wings at night to not only protect them from predators but to keep them warm. The willingness of Canada geese mothers to accept goslings that are not their own, allows wildlife rehabilitators and clinics (like the Wildlife Medical Clinic) to release goslings back into the wild and know that they are being well cared for! However, it is important to know that this is specific to Canada geese, doing this with baby ducks or mammals will not work out the same way!

An opossum mom is a walking jungle gym!

When people think of animals with a pouch, they commonly think of kangaroos! Many people overlook the Virginia opossum, which is the sole marsupial that lives in North America. Opposed to kangaroo mothers who can raise up to 3 joeys simultaneously in her pouch, opossum mothers may raise up to 13 babies in her pouch at once! That’s a lot to carry for one mom! As the babies begin to open their eyes, their curiosity gets the best of the them and they end up venturing out of their mom’s pouch on their own for longer and longer periods of time. Older babies spend a lot of time on their mother’s back and so mothers end up walking through the wild and searching for food with their own baby backpack. The babies are extremely good at gripping. This is very helpful because if they fall off, the mother will not go back for them, and they will be left to fend for themselves. Babies usually stay with mom for around 5 months, so opossum mothers have their hands full for a while! The next time you see an opossum, don’t be fooled, it may be a mom carrying more than meets the eye!

A killdeer mom is quite the actress!

Killdeers are a small, very vocal plover that like to nest in rocky, open areas. They make a small depression in the ground and usually lay four to six mottled eggs that resemble rocks. While their nest is quite camouflaged to the untrained eye, to a predator they are a little easier to spot. If this occurs, have no fear, mom has a trick she uses to lure those predators away. She first will make a lot of noise to alert the predator of her presence. Once she is seen, she will actually fake an injury and appear to have a broken wing. She gets so into it that you may even see her lay or roll around on the ground while moving her wing up and down, appearing to be in distress. This usually pulls the predator far enough away from her nest or if she has chicks, it gives them time to disperse and hide. Then mom has a miraculous recovery and flies away from the predator and back to her chicks, once it’s safe. Here is a great video that includes her nest and eggs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t0sFIW-G_0.

Written by Nina, Class of 2026

Snakes!

Snakes, an animal group that frequently causes fear in people. Whether it be due to them having scales, their quick and unique locomotion, or maybe it’s the fact that some are deadly.
Unfortunately, due to this fear, most snakes get grouped as dangerous and sometimes are killed because of this misconception. I was encouraged to hear that studies have shown that learning more about snakes and the species in your area can help alleviate some of these fears and hopefully cut down on people harming these beneficial creatures. As an outspoken snake lover, I would like to address some common questions people may have.

Are snakes venomous or poisonous?

Snakes are not poisonous, but rather venomous. A poisonous animal is one that contains a toxin that can infect a predator through skin contact or consumption. For example, if I were to eat a Poison Dart Frog, I would consume something poisonous. Venomous animals are ones that inject a toxin into something through a bite. Since some species of snakes inject venom through their fangs, they are referred to as “venomous.”

How can I tell the difference between a venomous/nonvenomous snake?

It is incredibly important to know the difference between venomous and nonvenomous snakes. While this article talks a lot about venomous snakes, it is important to remember that most of the snake species in Illinois are non-venomous. Illinois has forty species of snakes and only four of those species are venomous. Of those four species, two are only found in southern Illinois.

One way that you may realize you have encountered a venomous snake is by the presence of a rattle on the end of the tail. While only two of the venomous snakes in Illinois have rattles, the other two behave as if they have a rattle and will shake their tail and create a buzzing noise if disturbed. These venomous snakes with rattles are called rattlesnakes and they have specialized hollow scales at the tip of their tails that make a buzzing noise when they vibrate against each other. If you hear this noise or see a snake that has this structure on their tail, it’s best to stay away.

Of course, there are exceptions to the tail rule for both venomous and non-venomous species. Rattlesnakes can lose their rattles due to injury, and they do not grow back. In these cases, the snakes will have a blunted tail, not extending to a fine tip like non-venomous species. There are several species of non-venomous snakes that have also developed mimicry as a defense mechanism. For example, Fox snakes are known to rattle their tail against leaves to imitate the sound of a rattle. This video demonstrates how well they can replicate the sound:
https://youtu.be/_G3db-dnZ8A.

Since there are exceptions to the tail rule, it is important to have other ways to identify venomous snakes. Non-venomous snakes generally have rounded snouts, heads, and pupils. Venomous snakes generally have pointed snouts, heat sensing pits, and elliptical-shaped pupils. There are also differences in the scales below their vent, but this would be difficult to see from a distance. A good rule of thumb is to just keep your distance from any snake if you are not sure.

What are some local species?

Though they are mostly elusive animals that are skilled in not being seen, here are several local species in the Urbana-Champaign area that you may come across. The most common species are Garter Snakes, Northern Water Snake, Fox snakes, Rat Snakes, Smooth Green snakes, Red-Bellied Snakes, and Dekay’s Brownsnake. Though rare, you may come across an Eastern Massasauga, which is a venomous species. While the population has greatly decreased since 1980, it may still be possible to find remaining individuals. A full list of Illinois species can be found here: https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/gallery/amphibians-and-reptiles/snakes/

Why are snakes important?

Snakes play an integral role in the ecosystem. They can be predators but also prey for some. They are very beneficial as they keep rodent and insect populations at bay. They are food for birds of prey, some mammals, and even other snakes. Some snakes specialize in eating other snakes and one of those species resides right here in Illinois, the Kingsnake. While I know not everyone likes snakes, I hope we can all respect them and see their importance in the environment.

Written by Marg, class of 2026

Hoppy Spring!

We are in the midst of the most wonderful time of year for the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
(Sylvilagus floridanus). Spring comes with plentiful food and nourishment to support the
birth of many new young rabbits. The rabbit breeding season begins around early
March and continues into September. Since rabbits have such a short gestation period,
28 days, one rabbit can have upwards of three litters per year. An average litter has
anywhere from two to seven baby rabbits, also known as kits.

The cottontail rabbit gives birth in shallow, grassy depressions in the ground. The
mother rabbit will return only twice per day to feed her young, usually around dawn and
dusk. Outside of feedings, the mother will often put some distance between herself and
her young so as not to attract predators to her babies. The timeline from newborn to
self-sufficient is truly short with rabbits.

The kits are born blind and with little hair.

Their eyes will begin to open about four days after being born.

By twelve to sixteen days old they will begin to adventure out of their nest.

As early as four or five weeks old, young rabbits will start to fend for themselves.

They may begin to sexually reproduce as early as three to four months of age.

Unfortunately, many young kits do not survive to adulthood, partially due to the high risk
of predation. The average lifespan of a wild cottontail rabbit is about one to three years.

It is quite common for rabbits to make their nest in residential yards. The best thing you
can do if you find baby rabbits in your yard is leave them alone! It is a common
misconception that the mother will not return to feed her babies if they smell that a
human has touched them. Unless it has been confirmed that the mother is injured or
deceased, young kits have their best chance of survival when left in the wild for their
mom to care for them.

Dog owners often have concerns for a dog getting to the babies, and there are a couple
easy solutions for this. You can create a protective shield for the nest by placing a
laundry basket or small pen around the nest with a hole just big enough for the mother
rabbit to fit through. Alternatively, a weighted basket can be placed over the nest during
the day and removed at night for mom to return. If all else fails, leash-walking your dog
for potty time is another feasible option. As previously mentioned, the young rabbits
should be ready to move out of the nest within four to five weeks, so it is a temporary
inconvenience that makes a world of difference to the kits’ survival.

Celebrate the Spring season with some fun facts about the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

1. The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a different species than
the common domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and therefore, they are
unable to reproduce with each other.
○ It is important to note that the wild rabbit can transmit the fatal virus,
known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2, to domestic rabbits,
so they should not be allowed to mingle.

2. Eastern Cottontails are generally a solitary species but if found in a group, they
would be called a “fluffle.”

3. To escape predators, the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit can run as fast as 29km/hr.,
or 19mph.

4. Rabbits are usually non-vocal, but they can emit a grunt or scream if they are in
true danger.

5. Rabbits are crepuscular beings, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.

6. Eastern Cottontail Rabbits will sometimes do a courtship dance in which they will
leap up into the air and race under one another.

7. An adult cottontail rabbit can weigh up to 2.5lbs. Female rabbits are typically
larger than male rabbits.

8. Eastern Cottontail rabbits do not hibernate. During the winter, rabbits usually
survive on twigs and branches or any seedlings they can find. They take a break
from mating to preserve their energy as food sources are limited

This blog post was written by second year Alli

April Coloring Page

The Wildlife Medical Clinic is seeing a lot of baby bunnies as we move into spring. Decorate your very own baby cottontail coloring page! Feel free to share your fully colored masterpieces with us on Facebook by tagging us at ‘Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois’.

April-Coloring-Page Download

What to Do if You Find Orphaned Critters

It’s baby season in Illinois and the Wildlife Medical Clinic would like to share some tips for what to do if you see a potentially orphaned animal.

Wildlife Misconceptions

One of our goals at the Wildlife Medical Clinic is to educate the public about the animals that live around us, and that sometimes involves correcting long-believed ideas. Here are four of my favorite misconceptions to discuss with people:

1) “Bald eagles sound fierce!”

That majestic battle-cry you have heard in movies did NOT come from a bald eagle. At some point, film and TV editors in Hollywood decided that red-tailed hawks have a much more intimidating sound and would dub over eagle vocalizations with audio from hawks to present a stronger American symbol. Bald eagles actually make a series of short, high-pitched notes that can be described as whistling or piping. We have both species as Ambassador animals – if you visit, Odin (red-tailed hawk) and River (bald eagle) may give you the chance to hear the difference!

For those that can’t visit the clinic, here is a video from the Alaska Raptor Center “Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle Vocalizations”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEmYEQ78zS0

2) “Possums carry rabies!”

Rabies is a concern for human health and in our domestic pets, however, Virginia opossums very rarely carry rabies. As marsupials, they have a lower body temperature than most other wild mammals and this is thought to be the main reason opossums are not typically affected by this virus. The mammals in Illinois that are considered common carries of rabies are bats and skunks, which is why the Wildlife Medical Clinic cannot accept these species as patients. For your pets at home, the best way to protect them from rabies is by staying up to date with vaccinations from your veterinarian!

3) “The difference between snakes and lizards is that snakes don’t have legs and lizards do.”

This may sound silly, but there are a few hundred species of legless lizards that can be found around the world! While they are rarely found in Illinois, they are commonly seen in other states such as California and Florida. If you happen to travel outside of the United States, you may come across them in areas of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. So, if you cannot tell the difference between a snake and lizard based on legs, what can you look for to tell the difference? One of the easiest things to try to observe from a distance is whether they have holes just behind their eyes. These are ear holes – lizards have them, snakes do not! You can also look at whether they have eyelids – legless lizards can close their eyes whereas snakes do not have eyelids.

4) “You can’t move a baby bunny or baby bird because the mother will smell you on them and won’t take care of them.”

This is a common concern we hear from people, especially around this time of the year. Luckily, this is a misconception! If you find a young animal that does not appear to be injured or sick, our first recommendation will be to return it to the nest and its parents if you are able. Your touch will not cause the mother to abandon the baby. The best option for wildlife is to remain in the wild and be raised by their parents. Of course, we know this is not always possible and if the young animal is truly orphaned or injured, please contact the WMC or your nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Written by First Year Sarah