Willowbrook Wildlife Center

Willowbrook Wildlife Center is a native wildlife rehabilitation facility that provides care and medical treatment for injured and orphaned wild animals. As an education center, it serves as a resource for county residents who wish to learn how to live in harmony with local wildlife. 

Visitor Center

The Willowbrook Visitor Center offers a closer view of native wildlife. Animals with permanent disabilities live in several of the indoor exhibits, and windows provide views of the kitchen and nursery, where staff and volunteers prepare specialized diets and care for baby animals. A classroom and an indoor discovery area offer additional explorations for the center’s younger visitors. The center has modern restrooms, a drinking fountain, general forest preserve and wildlife information, and a gift shop with wildlife-related merchandise.

Outdoor Features

Exhibits

Several native animals with permanent disabilities live in enclosures along the center’s outdoor exhibit trail. Residents include bald and golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, owls, red foxes, groundhogs, raccoons and opossums.

Sandhill Cranes

Willowbrook is home to two state-threatened sandhill cranes. An enclosed wetland bird habitat houses the cranes and serves as a unique educational experience.

Butterfly Garden

Willowbrook’s butterfly garden showcases landscape ideas to attract native and migrating butterflies and other wildlife to the backyard. The exhibit is provided with support by the University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardeners.

Nature Trail

A self-guided tour, Willowbrook’s Nature Trail teaches visitors about wildlife and the prairie, savanna, woodland and wetland habitats of DuPage County. A 0.5-mile outer loop and a shorter inner loop travel through 40 acres of restored habitats.

Educational Programs

Throughout the year, Willowbrook Wildlife Center offers individuals, families and groups a variety of fun, educational programs that focus on insects, birds of prey, mammals and natural history. For upcoming programs, visit the Calendar of Events.

During the summer, children can enjoy one of the center’s two camps. At “Hodge Podge Lodge,” kids ages 6 – 8 will experience the environment and learn how they are part of nature through games, activities and stories. At “Roger Raccoon Club,” children ages 9 – 12 will discover the natural history of DuPage County through safe exploration and play in wild places. For session information and registration forms, visit Camps for Kids.

Willowbrook Wildlife Center also offers programs that meet state curriculum standards for grammar school and high school classes. For details, teachers should call the center at (630) 942-6200.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

In 1956, private land owners deeded Willowbrook to the Forest Preserve District to serve as a haven for injured animals. In 1981, the Forest Preserve District added a new education and treatment center and an outdoor exhibit area and officially named the site Willowbrook Wildlife Center.

One of Willowbrook’s goals is to provide care and treatment to DuPage County’s native and migrant wildlife. Every year, qualified staff and trained volunteers tend to thousands of native animals that the public brings to the center. The center bands or tags rehabilitated animals for tracking purposes before releasing them back into their natural habitats.

Anyone who comes across a wild animal and is concerned should leave the animal alone and call Willowbrook Wildlife Center’s 24-hour automated phone line at (630) 942-6200 for advice.

Volunteering

Willowbrook Wildlife Center volunteers prepare specialized diets and clean cages for animals; assist with the captive rearing of orphaned wildlife; and serve as raptor educators. They also communicate the center’s message and visit schools. For more information, visit Willowbrook Volunteers, or contact the Forest Preserve District’s Volunteer Services office at (630) 933-7681 or volunteer@dupageforest.com.

Accessibility

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. At Willowbrook Wildlife Center, the visitor center, nature trail and butterfly garden are all well-suited for wheelchairs.

For special accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the District’s ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days before your visit.