WMC's mission is threefold: to provide care and treatment to sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals to the point where they can be returned to the wild; to provide hands-on training to veterinary students; and through our public education program, to teach the members of our community about the environment in which they live and the wildlife they share it with
The Wildlife Medical Clinic accepts ill, injured, or orphaned wildlife (except for skunks and bats) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Upon presentation, the animals are triaged and then assigned to a team of 8-10 volunteers (generally veterinary students) who are responsible for treating the patient.
The primary goal in treating wild animals is to help animals recover to a state in which they can be released into the wild. Wild animals must be completely healthy before being released into the wild in order for them to hunt or forage for food, as well as stay out of danger.
The WMC is housed in the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. The College donates clinic space and utilities, but all testing, feed, treatment and surgery costs are covered by the WMC budget. The WMC is a non-profit organization that depends solely on fund-raising, donations, and grants for this operating budget.