Animal control offers advice about wild animals
If you see a dead animal in Kane County, Kane County Animal Control is the place to report such an incident.
The Kane County Animal Control website is new and improved. To read more FAQs and find information about pets and wild animals in Kane County, visit kanecountypets.com.
Q. I see an injured animal. Whom should I contact?
A. For critically injured domestic animals such as dogs, cats, etc. and most wildlife - raccoons, opossums, rabbits - call the respective authority. If the location of the injured animal is within city limits, your first point of contact must be your local authorities. Your local police or animal control will work in conjunction with Kane County Animal Control to resolve the situation.
If the animal is in an unincorporated area of Kane County, Kane County Animal Control will pick up the animal if it can be confined. If the animal cannot be contained, you can call (630) 232-3555 to report the sighting.
Some larger wild animals, such as wolves, are protected under Illinois state law and are handled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They may be contacted at (847) 608-3100 or www.dnr.illinois.gov/Pages/default.aspx.
Critically injured deer, such as those that have been struck by a vehicle, are handled by the police department of the city they were struck in, or in unincorporated areas by the Kane County Sheriff's Department, (630) 232-8400.
Q. I see an animal that looks like it has rabies.
A. Thankfully, because of widespread vaccination efforts, rabies is uncommon in Illinois. However, cases of rabies in animals are still present in Illinois and throughout the rest of the United States. For information on the rabies virus itself, consult the entry on how many rabid animals Kane County Animal Control finds each year. If you see an animal that looks like it may be exhibiting rabies symptoms, do not approach it. If the animal is within city limits, call your local police department or animal control to have the animal captured for rabies testing. In unincorporated areas, call (630) 232-3555. If possible, the animal will be captured and submitted to the state for rabies testing.
Q. I see a dead animal. What should I do?
A. If the deceased animal is on your property, you may dispose of it along with your regular waste. Wearing gloves, put the animal in two refuse bags in order to deter other animals from approaching it, and it may be disposed of like any other household waste. If the deceased animal is on a roadway or an easement, contact the city's public works department, or the county highway department at (630) 584-1170 if it is in an unincorporated area.
In the summertime, if you see a sick or dead bird with no signs of physical injury, contact the Kane County Health Department at (630) 444-6040 to arrange for the bird to be tested for West Nile virus.