What Can A Kid Do?

The Illinois Raptor Center needs your help!

Pogo the educational opossum

Wildlife Do's and Don'ts

Do: Keep your cats and dogs indoors or on a leash, especially in the spring and summer when wildlife babies are trying to make it on their own. Our free-roaming pets kill millions of songbirds and small mammals each year!

Do Not: rescue an animal from the wild unless you are positive it is orphaned or injured. Always make an effort to keep wild babies in the wild with their natural parents. That is their best hope for survival. Call the Illinois Raptor Center at (217) 963-6909 if you have any questions.

Do Not: attempt to raise orphaned wildlife on your own for three reasons. 1. It is against the law. 2. It takes a lot of training. 3. It can be dangerous.

Do: teach other kids to respect wildlife by using the three "L's," Look, learn and leave alone!

Do Not: take turtles, frogs, snakes or any other animal from the wild to make pets out of them. It is not kind to the animal, it can be dangerous and it is against the law.

Do: check the grass for nests before mowing.

Do Not: cut tree branches or clear brush before you check for nests. The best time for this type of work is the fall when nesting season is over.

Do Not: mow areas that can be left in high grass. This creates habitat for animals that might otherwise have no place to live.

Do: keep an eye out for wildlife when riding in a car. Watch the sides of the road closely for animals trying to cross the pavement - especially at dusk and dawn.

Do Not: litter. Learn to recycle. Wildlife can become entangled in plastics, string and fishing line. They can die needlessly.

Do: be a good Earth steward. Read, learn, observe, care and act responsibly.

 

What else can a kid do?

The Illinois Raptor Center needs everyone's help to provide the care that is needed to return orphaned and injured wild animals to the wild. It costs nearly $45 to care for every wild animal that is admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. This includes proper food, caging and medical care. IRC cares for more than 700 animals each year. We also have phone bills, electricity, garbage service, heat bills, gasoline, insurance and a mortgage to pay!

 

So, as you can see, you can help by collecting things that we won't have to go out and buy later on. Your donation is greatly needed by the animals and appreciated by our volunteers. Kids can help by collecting donations for the animals at IRC. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, schools, clubs, organizations, classrooms, neighborhoods and church groups can participate in sponsoring and organizing an in kind donation drive.

 

Just call us at the wildlife center and let us know what you are doing, when and where. Then we will schedule a time for you to bring the donations to the facility, and your group will receive a certificate of appreciation from the IRC directors.

Items we can use: Paper towels, facial tissues, masking tape, peroxide, cotton balls, providing, isopropyl alcohol, Q-Tips, dog biscuits, heavy dog or rabbit bowls, rabbit/rodent pellets, high protein baby cereal, canned fruit, strained baby chicken, wheat germ, corn meal, tennis balls, oatmeal, bird seed (all kinds), unsalted peanuts, shelled and unshelled nuts, dog/cat food (Purina quality or better), bird houses, 35mm film, video cassettes, office supplies, Dawn dish soap, batteries (any size) 60 watt light bulbs, bleach, disinfectants, window cleaner, 4x6 plain index cards, heavy garbage bags (33 gallon or larger), sponges and spray bottles.

 

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