If you find a wild baby bunny exhibiting any of the following signs listed below, call Willowbrook Wildlife Center at 630-942-6200.
View a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators in your area.
Or, find information about an injured or orphaned animal you have found.
Find the information you need to assess the animal's condition, determine if it needs help and then take action.
Before you make a drive to Willowbrook Wildlife Center, call first at 630-942-6200. The animal admittance area is open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., but call first for no-contact curbside drop-offs.
If you have found a baby bunny, take a few simple measures to help a baby bunny.
Put the baby bunny back in its nest.
If the baby fits the following description, it may be on its own.
Don't look for mom.
You shouldn't expect to see the mother. She only feeds her young once or twice a day and usually at night. Otherwise, she stays away so she doesn't bring attention to the nest, which is a defense strategy that many species use.
Because the female stays away for so long, people may think her young are orphaned. However, a female can raise an entire litter without ever being seen.
If you're still concerned, you can check to see if the mother returns.
Eastern cottontails and other young wild animals are not constantly supervised by their parents. They spend much of their time alone or with siblings. Because of this, people should leave the young alone when possible. Cottontails are particularly difficult to raise in captivity, even by experts.
Trapping and removing an animal is not always the solution to the problem. Removing the animal is illegal without the proper permits and only creates an open space for another animal to inhabit. A trapped adult may also leave young behind to die of starvation. Focus on removing the attraction, not the animal.
Never move young from a den.
Never use poisons. They're inhumane and may be illegal. They can also result in secondary poisoning of other wild animals or pets.
It's illegal to keep wild animals, even for a short time. They have special nutritional, housing and handling needs, and inexperienced individuals who try to raise or treat them inevitably produce unhealthy, tame animals that can't survive in the wild.
The visitor center, outdoor exhibit and nature trails, and surrounding Willowbrook Forest Preserve are closed until further notice. Willowbrook accepts most wildlife patients 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., but call 630-942-6200 first for no-contact curbside drop-offs.
Get tips for common issues with wildlife, and visit Living With Wildlife.
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3S580 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
Visitor Services
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 630-933-7200
Email: forest@dupageforest.org
Police: 630-933-7240
Email: police@dupageforest.org
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