About Us

Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation is a state and federally licensed, private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the care of injured and orphaned wildlife and to educating the public about wildlife and wildlife-related issues. Flint Creek Wildlife treats all species of birds and treats all mammals excluding skunks bats and raccoons.

Flint Creek Wildlife has locations in Barrington and downtown Chicago. Our Chicago location, which is made possible by the Chicago Park District's generous donation of space at Northerly Island, is the only wildlife rehabilitation center in the city. This location is uniquely situated on Chicago's beautiful lakefront right by the museum campus at the former Meig's Field Terminal Building. The proximity of Northerly Island is of benefit both to the residents of Chicago as well as to the animals we treat. Many injuries are time-sensitive, particularly acute traumas such as head trauma caused when migratory birds strike the windows of Chicago's buildings. Early treatment means higher success rates. In fact, survival rates for birds treated at Northerly Island are 9% higher as compared to transporting animals to the suburbs for treatment.

Since accepting its first animals for treatment in early 2004, we have quickly grown to be one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in northern Illinois, treating over 2,500 animals annually. Our phenomenal growth has resulted from a number of factors. First, we have witnessed the elimination of services at two publicly funded facilities and the elimination or reduction of services at several privately-funded facilities. Trailside Nature Center and Spring Brook Nature Center, both publicly funded, closed their rehabilitation centers during 2006. Private centers lost capacity for a variety of reasons such as the out-of-state relocation of Safe Haven Wildlife. Second, we are seeing increased demand due to the opening of Northerly Island. Many birds that previously had no place to go or had to travel to distant suburban locations are now getting help due to the convenience of Northerly. Third, we receive a growing number of animals from private and public agencies due to our excellent reputation and cooperative relationships with many fine organizations.

Because we receive no government funding and cannot yet afford to hire full-time licensed rehabilitators for Northerly Island, the location is currently a triage center focused on stabilizing critically injured birds. Any birds that cannot be released the day of treatment are transported back to our Barrington facility where they, like all animals at our Barrington facility, receive round-the-clock medical care.

Our Barrington location is equipped with almost everything you might find at a veterinarian's office - IV pumps, incubators, nebulizers, warming blankets and an anesthesia machine to name a few. Although we do not have a veterinarian on staff, some of the finest veterinarians in Illinois assist us with more complicated medical issues. Our primary veterinarian, Dr. Peter Sakas, is one of the top avian veterinarian's in the country. Not only is Dr. Sakas experienced in avian issues, he also has extensive experience with wildlife, having previously been the veterinarian for another rehabilitation center. Dr. Sakas and his staff at Niles Animal Hospital, including Dr. Christine Wilmes and Technician Deborah, provide us with a wealth of knowledge and skill. Our specialists and emergency veterinarians include Dr. Steven Sisler of Eye Care for Animals, Dr. Barbara Stapleton of Barrington Animal Hospital, Dr. Kenneth Welle of All Creatures Animal Hospital and Dr. Michael Hochman of Animal Emergency of McHenry County. I would also be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the generosity of these vets, many of whom have donated equipment, supplies and time to help our patients.