Willowbrook Wildlife Center - Public Input Requested

For 65 years DuPage County residents have relied on DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center to provide high-quality care and medical treatment to injured and orphaned native wildlife in DuPage County.

During the pandemic in 2020, nationally recognized Willowbrook treated more than 9,000 patients; in 2019, it treated 9,669 patients. Based on these patient caseloads, Willowbrook is the largest rehabilitation center in Illinois and one of the largest in the U.S.

Willowbrook has adapted to changes in wildlife rehabilitation best practices, but the National Wildlife Rehabilitator Association (NWRA) and International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) have made some significant changes in wildlife rehabilitation guidelines for housing and exhibiting wildlife that will impact how Willlowbrook provides quality animal care in the future.

Improvements are needed to ensure that Willowbrook remains the treasured, state-of-the-art wildlife rehabilitation facility and national leader that not only engages visitors in veterinary science and medical care but also demonstrates how to attract and live in harmony with wildlife.

Plans call for building a new wildlife rehabilitation clinic and visitor center with expanded naturalized outdoor and indoor rehabilitation areas and interactive learning exhibits that explain the wildlife rehabilitation process. Plans also include a welcome plaza, an outdoor classroom, an interpretive trail with wildlife observation areas, and outdoor activity spaces.

We want to hear what you think of these plans! Share your thoughts with us by completing a survey, filling out a comment form at https://www.dupageforest.org/news-upcoming-projects-willowbrook-phase-2, or attending an open house on the project. To receive an invite to a July 29 Zoom meeting, provide us with your email address by filling out the comment form or taking the survey.

Public Open Houses

● Thursday, July 29, 6 – 8 p.m., virtual Zoom meeting

● Saturday, July 31, 10 a.m. – noon, picnic pavilion at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, 525 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn

● Tuesday, Aug. 10, 4 – 6 p.m., District headquarters, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton

Help shape Willowbrook’s future by giving us your feedback on these plans. Help us make Willowbrook the best native wildlife rehabilitation center for the future.

Karie Friling

Executive Director

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County