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 […]
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 […]
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 thebirth of many new young rabbits. The rabbit breeding season begins around earlyMarch and continues into September. Since rabbits have such a short gestation period,28 days, one rabbit […]
The veterinary students at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine are some of the most driven and goal-oriented people I have ever met. Knowing this, I wanted to ask my fellow Wildlife Medical Clinic volunteers what their resolutions were for the new year. More specifically what their goals were related to the WMC, […]
As winter creeps in, bringing its brisk winds and snowy skies, this feature is about one animal who does not mind these chills! The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) which is an Arctic species that periodically may be seen in Illinois during the winter months. Their characteristic white feathers and dark flecks are perfect in camouflaging […]
This year, an injured, adult common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, was brought to the Wildlife Medical Clinic after being spotted with a fishing hook stuck through its tongue. Snapping turtles are native primarily to Central and North America, with some species ranges extending into western Columbia. They are normally found in lakes or slow-moving streams. […]
Over the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd, the Non-Traditional Species Club of the College of Veterinary Medicine had its annual, online conference, Wildlife University. During this two-day event, speakers from across the University of Illinois and beyond presented various wildlife related topics. Speakers included the Wildlife Medical Clinic’s very own Drs. Sam and Will […]
The holidays are just around the corner and with the transition into fall there are many people putting out decorations and making their homes festive for the season. Unfortunately, many common Halloween, Christmas, and other seasonal decorations can be disruptive or even dangerous to wildlife. The Wildlife Medical Clinic would like to share ways you […]
This year, an injured, adult barred owl was brought to the Wildlife Medical Clinic for care after being hit by a bus. Barred owls are native to eastern North America and live an average of 8-10 years in the wild. They do not migrate, and most will remain in a single area their whole lives. […]
Fairy tales and tall tales recounting the lore of bats have existed for thousands of years. An early Slavic community in Romania believed bats flying over an unburied human corpse could bring them back to life as a vampire. Another story from Aesop’s fairy tales gives origin to bats hiding in dark towers and deserted […]