Wildlife center to temporarily close to visitors

Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn will be closed to visitors for several days next week so crews can finish work on a new parking lot.

But the native wildlife education and rehabilitation center will continue to accept injured or orphaned wild animals during the closure, which is scheduled to begin June 24.

The center at 525 S. Park Blvd. is expected to reopen to visitors at 9 a.m. June 29.

"We appreciate our visitors' patience while our parking lot has been under construction during these past few months and are looking forward to being able to accommodate even more people with the new and enlarged lot," Sandy Fejt, Willowbrook's manager, said in a statement.

Officials said the new parking lot is part of a larger development plan for the center. Other planned work includes improving and expanding existing buildings, reconfiguring and replacing outdoor animal exhibits and restoring wetlands along Glen Crest Creek.

While Willowbrook is closed to visitors, a limited number of employees and volunteers will be at the center to accept animals for admittance and care for resident and rehabilitating animals. They also will answer wildlife questions for anyone who calls the center at (630) 942-6200.