If you’ve found sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, either leave the animal or bird where you found it and let nature take its course, or call a wildlife rehabilitator. Call the local animal control office or police department for assistance if the animal poses a threat to public health or safety.
You should not try to care for wildlife yourself. Many people are not aware that it is illegal to keep wildlife in captivity or as pets in Illinois. This is because most wildlife in Illinois are protected by the Wildlife Code, and they cannot be kept in captivity without a permit.
Untrained individuals should not handle wildlife. Wild animals or birds can inflict serious injury. They can also be carriers of disease or parasites that are transmittable to humans or domestic animals.
The Wildlife Illinois website was authorized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in partial fulfillment of project W-147-T. The website was developed by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, 2wav, and the IDNR in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services and University of Illinois Extension to provide research-based information about how to coexist with Illinois wildlife.
