WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER REMINDS DU PAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT SPRING IS BABY-ANIMAL SEASON

Spring is breeding season for most DuPage wildlife, and the staff and volunteers at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s native-wildlife rehabilitation and education center in Glen Ellyn, remind residents, “If you care, leave them there.”
      Unlike human children, the majority of young wildlife is routinely left alone for hours or an entire day.
      “Fearing that the babies have been abandoned, many well-meaning people bring the young animals to Willowbrook Wildlife Center,” says Sandy Fejt, the center’s site manager. However, parents are usually foraging and will return to care for their young. “The best place for a wild animal to grow up is in the wild,” adds Fejt.
      Before handling or approaching any wild animal that may be injured or abandoned, residents should seek advice from Willowbrook, which is located at 525 S. Park Blvd. and open daily 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. Species-specific guidelines are online at dupageforest.org/livingwithwildlife. The public can also contact the center at willowbrook@dupageforest.org or 630-942-6200. Staff members answer inquiries between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily, and the phone line offers recorded after-hour information.
      While DuPage County residents may encounter many species of wildlife babies, a few of the most common are young songbirds, tree squirrels and cottontail rabbits.
      Songbirds pass through several stages of growth before leaving their parents’ care. Nestlings are very young birds that have no feathers and thus cannot fly. Should these young fall from their nests, parent birds cannot move them. In this case, some human intervention is helpful, and Willowbrook recommends carefully placing baby back in the nest. If necessary, a makeshift nest can placed near the original nest site. Fledgling songbirds have most of their feathers and may tumble to the ground while learning to fly. Parents will continue to care for these young and no intervention is necessary.
      Eastern cottontail rabbits frequently make their nests in open areas like lawns and schoolyards. So they do not alert predators to their young, females stay away during the day but return at night to feed the young. If a nest disturbed, the best course of action is to re-cover the babies with grass. Homeowners should keep dogs and other pets away and help children observe without harming the animals.
      Young tree squirrels may fall from their nests during windy weather. In most cases, the mother squirrel will retrieve them on her own. If 24 hours pass and a baby is still alone, it may be appropriate to take the squirrel to Willowbrook Wildlife Center. An infant squirrel requires a special diet and careful handling in order to avoid human habituation that would ruin its chance of survival in the wild.
      The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and manages 25,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Each year more than 4 million visitors enjoy 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs. To get District e-news in your inbox, sign up at dupageforest.org/e-newsletter. For general information, visit dupageforest.org or call 630-933-7200.