Great horned owl chicks of different ages are pictured together (top photo). The smaller one sits by a coffee cup for size comparison.

Baby fox squirrels (top photo) nap while baby cottontail rabbits huddle together.

Spring arrives early and often at the Illinois Raptor Center as our wildlife hospital receives its first newborn patients, usually by late February.

As always, we encourage people to be absolutely certain that an animal needs human assistance before bringing it to a rehabilitator. It is always our goal to keep wild animals in the wild where they belong. Please go to our "How To Help Without Hurting" brochure to learn how and when to safely intervene.

Many animals and birds brought to rehabilitators were unnecessarily rescued. Please give us a call at 217-963-6909 or refer to our online instructions before taking an animal from the wild.

Many animals, like great horned owls, can be dangerous. Others can carry disease. IRC volunteers believe human intervention should be a last resort. Help us help our native wildlife.

For more about great horned owls, click here.