Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois

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Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois The Wildlife Medical Clinic accepts ill, injured, and orphaned wildlife (excluding skunks and bats) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Wildlife Medical Clinic, located on the University of Illinois campus and part of the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, is a not-for-profit clinic that cares for approximately 2,000 wild animals annually. We see around 2,000 patients annually that are cared for and treated by our approximately 120 veterinary and undergraduate student volunteers. While the veterinary college provides the clinical space and faculty oversight for our volunteers, our operating budget is funded entirely through fundraising, donations, and grants. The Wildlife Medical Clinic’s mission is three-fold. We strive to provide the highest quality care to native wildlife. We are committed to training the next generation of veterinarians by providing hands on learning and training during their time in the clinic. And lastly, we educate members of the public about coexisting with native Illinois wildlife. If you have a question about an injured, ill, or orphaned animal you found, we may be reached via phone at 217-244-1195 or via e-mail at [email protected]. If your question is urgent, please call the Clinic at 217-244-1995. If you would like more information on supporting the wildlife medical clinic, please visit https://vetmed.illinois.edu/hospital/wildlife-medical-clinic/wildlife-giving/. If you are interested in scheduling an outreach program involving our ambassador animals, please visit https://vetmed.illinois.edu/hospital/wildlife-medical-clinic/outreach/.

True or false: All reptiles lay eggs....False! Its  ! Did you know that some reptiles give birth to live young?Garter sn...
10/30/2026

True or false: All reptiles lay eggs....False!
Its ! Did you know that some reptiles give birth to live young?
Garter snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning embryos develop within eggs inside the mother’s body. The developing young are nourished by egg yolk instead of a placenta. When they are ready, the eggs hatch within the mother, and she will give birth to a live litter of snakelets. 🐍

Happy   Thursday! 26-2400 is a hatch year Great Horned Owl who came to us on September 28th after being found on the gro...
10/29/2026

Happy Thursday! 26-2400 is a hatch year Great Horned Owl who came to us on September 28th after being found on the ground. Thankfully, on our initial physical exam our team did not see any overt or life threatening injuries, like a wing fracture. However, 26-2400’s bloodwork showed inflammation, meaning that their body may be fighting an infection. A PCR test soon confirmed 26-2400 was positive for West Nile virus. West Nile virus is a mosquito-transmitted virus that can cause severe neurological disease or even death in birds, especially wild bird species.
However, it's possible for birds to survive this virus. This owl was a promising case for West Nile survival. Although the 26-2400 was positive for West Nile Virus, and showing neurologic signs, they were in a relatively healthy state otherwise. We created a plan of aggressive supportive care to support 26-2400’s body in fighting their infection. 26-2400 continued to eat well and show amazing clinical improvement as we monitored their care. After a few weeks at the WMC, the owl tested negative for West Nile virus!
On Oct 26 we transferred 26-2400 to our friends at Illinois Raptor Center where this owl will continue its healing journey!

Learn more about West Nile Virus and its impact here: https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wildlife/american-crow-and-the-west-nile-virus/

Times Up! ⏰ Its a Great Horned Owl! These large tufts of feathers are known as plumicorns. Although they may look like e...
10/28/2026

Times Up! ⏰ Its a Great Horned Owl! These large tufts of feathers are known as plumicorns. Although they may look like ears or horns, plumicorns are just for show. An owl's real ear holes are located on either side of their head. A Great Horned Owl uses their plumicorns for communication; raising or lowering them to convey emotions. Plumicorns also help camouflage owls against tree bark when raised.
Was your guess correct?
🦉Check back tomorrow to hear more about this Great Horned Owl on tomorrow's case update!

Its  !  Quiz your bird knowledge this morning, and tell us who these feathers belong to! 🪶Check back on our page at 5pm ...
10/28/2026

Its ! Quiz your bird knowledge this morning, and tell us who these feathers belong to! 🪶Check back on our page at 5pm for the reveal

It’s   at the WMC, and we would love to drop some knowledge on one of the most commonly encountered species we see in th...
10/23/2026

It’s at the WMC, and we would love to drop some knowledge on one of the most commonly encountered species we see in the clinic, the Eastern Gray Squirrel! These little critters are often brought to us as orphaned juveniles, and while sometimes we receive an entire litter of squirrels, occasionally we receive a singleton. Eastern gray squirrels in the wild often will remain social with their mother and littermates into early adulthood, and so to mimic this critical period of communal nesting and natural behavior, we often pair healthy, similarly-sized orphans. Squirrels love the buddy system!😍

10/22/2026

Are you ready for your weekly from the WMC? Patient 26-2466 is an adult Plains Garter Snake who presented to the WMC on 10/16 after being found stuck, unable to fit through a pipe. Using lubricant, our team was able to gently free them and assess for any injuries sustained. Thankfully, this patient only suffered minor abrasions from their entanglement, and after a few days of observation and anti-inflammatories, 26-2466 was cleared to return to the wild! Check them out slithering away back where they were found (away from pipes, of course)! 🐍

Time’s up! ⌛ Did you astute birdwatchers out there guess that this is a Blackburnian Warbler? That’s one of ~55 warbler ...
10/21/2026

Time’s up! ⌛ Did you astute birdwatchers out there guess that this is a Blackburnian Warbler? That’s one of ~55 warbler species that migrate through North America! Thanks for playing, and we’ll see you next Wednesday for another puzzle!

It’s   and we want to see those guesses for who this little critter might be! Check back on our page at 5pm for the reve...
10/21/2026

It’s and we want to see those guesses for who this little critter might be! Check back on our page at 5pm for the reveal! 🧐

Can you guess if this painted turtle is male or female? Many reptile species do not display obvious sexual dimorphism, t...
10/16/2026

Can you guess if this painted turtle is male or female? Many reptile species do not display obvious sexual dimorphism, the differences in physical appearance between males and females. If present, these changes can also be subtle and hard to visually identify, or are only seen internally. However, painted turtles are easier to differentiate compared to other turtle species. Male painted turtles display long forelimb claws, such as the male in this photo. Female painted turtles will have short claws. Happy !

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2100 S. Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL
61802

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