Images: Behind the scenes at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center
Jenny Theuman, a seasonal keeper, feeds chimney swifts vitamin and nutrient-enriched mealworms at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
A Coopers hawk, which is a couple weeks from release, hangs out in the raptor flight facility at the center.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
A Blandings turtle hatches out of its shell at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. The Blandings turtle program is a captive rearing head start program that the center works with in cooperation with the rest of the forest preserve. They have had over 220 eggs hatch each year with artificial incubation. Most are then released back into the wild.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Wildlife specialist Rose Augustine takes a look around a raccoon cage in the outdoor rehab area where animals spend the weeks and months before they are released to the wild.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Young mourning doves get a special nest during their care at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
A baby squirrel is hand-fed a special formula for rodents during its care at the center.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Raccoons close to being released hang out in the outdoor rehab area.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
A red-tailed hawk hangs out with some great horned owls as they await their release. They spend a few weeks in the raptor flight facility before being released.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Dr. Jen Nevis, staff veterinarian at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, takes a look at a blue jay that was dropped off. She discovered it had a broken beak.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
A squirrel about four weeks old sits beside a stuffed animal, which provides a hiding place and comfort during his care at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
A chimney swift gets fed a vitamin and nutrient-enriched mealworm during its rehab at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com