Ellie's Critter Rescue

07/05/2026

All the babies are officially vaccinated and moved into pre-release!

06/22/2026

Please don’t trap and relocate wildlife. They usually don’t survive it. You stand a high chance of orphaning babies. And it forms a wildlife “hole” that is immediately filled with more wildlife. Trapping and relocating can even cause MORE wildlife to enter your property because of the gap created by the original wildlife. Wildlife will manage their own territories when left alone and you will have fewer interactions with wildlife by NOT trapping and relocating.

06/18/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18gYEJnp7P/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Grumpy face, a li’l scruffy, standing or hopping and fully feathered? Yup, that’s a fledgling. Unless they’re injured or in danger, you can usually let them be.

A fledgling is a bird who’s just left the nest. They don’t fly much at first, but this is normal. If they can stand or hop and are covered in feathers, they’re likely fine. Their parents are usually nearby foraging for food to feed them. If you’re not sure, wait and watch from a distance to see if the parents show up.

If a fledgling is in a road or other dangerous spot, it’s OK to move them to a safer place nearby but only a few feet away! A fledgling is still dependent on their parents, and the parents must be able to find them.

Every summer, we admit many dozens of healthy fledglings who were rescued by mistake. Their rescuers certainly meant well, but the consequences for that bird (not being raised for their parents) and for us (many more birds in care unnecessarily) are steep. Whenever possible, we ask the rescuers to return them where they found them and wait to see if the parents return.

**Note: Pigeons are the exception. Pigeons stay in the nest a long 4 weeks and look almost like adults when they fledge. Usually if a pigeon looks too young to be out of the nest (short wings, short tail, fuzzy head), they are.**

If you’re not sure, send us a photo or contact your local wildlife rehabber.

Your donations feed a lot of babies and fledglings this time of year! Please consider helping: 🔗 bit.ly/wbfdonate

06/12/2026

Me this season, “Unfortunately I can not take in animals this season for personal reasons.”

Also me this season: Takes in, rehabilitates and releases 5 squirrels and 13 raccoons. 😂

Rehabbers hate having to say no. A lot of rehabbers take in animals that they really shouldn’t. They give up their time, their energy, their money, their homes… to help animals. Many take on animals when their own health is struggling.

Everything is fine here at Ellie’s Critters. My animals and myself are all cared for and doing fine. I just wanted everyone to know how much rehabbers hate saying no, but how imperative it is that we do say no at times. I know I’ve had to turn down quite a few animals this season. I’ve also said yes to 18 animals when my original plan was to take in none this year.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

05/30/2026

Update: Nigel seamed to fit him best, so thank you to those who suggested it!

05/28/2026

So, the bigger one is Cedrick. I need a good British name for the littler one. He’s quite spunky!

05/28/2026

Thanks to a generous donation we were able to purchase all the vaccines needed for our raccoons this season. You know who you are and Thank you — Sincerely!

05/25/2026

We have 11 raccoons at the moment at various stages of development. That means we will need 22 doses of vaccines. $400. If you can donate $5 to help towards this cost we would greatly appreciate it. Vaccines are essential in rehab as when the animals are in prerelease there are many of them living in close quarters and diseases can spread quickly and be fatal. Click below to donate. Or you can use our Zeffy link at

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/e887b07f-0b8a-47a4-b91b-071b431389a1

Zeffy takes no part of your donation and we get 100%

Thank you for your donation! Your donation has helped to feed, house, and provide medical care for Orphaned or Injured Illinois Wildlife and/ or to fund Illinois a wildlife Education programs!