FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ("FAQ")
One of our jobs is to provide answers to wildlife-related questions asked
by the general public. In many, if not most cases we are able to provide
answers to these questions. However, in some specific cases we are not
the best source of information and we must refer callers to another more
appropriate agency. Among the more common question topics (and either answers
or links to appropriate agencies) received by the Chicago Illinois Field
Office are:
| Injured Wildlife
| Canada Geese |
National Parks | Duck
Stamps | Boating Hunting & Fishing Licenses
| Report Hazardous Materials |
Ecological Services |
Trust Resources |
QUESTION: WHERE DO I TAKE INJURED BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE?
ANSWER: In urban areas such as Chicago, wildlife species frequently
encounter dogs and cats, or collide with windows or vehicles. While many of
these animals die, sometimes the public may find injured wildlife. In
Illinois, injured wildlife may be briefly held and transported to wildlife
rehabilitators
licensed by the State of Illinois. In addition, migratory birds may taken only
to rehabilitators who are in possession of appropriate Federal permits issued
by the Service. The list of licensed rehabilitators changes annually. The Chicago Illinois Field Office can provide you with a
list of licensed rehabilitators in your area if you call 847/381-2253.
Please be prepared to tell us the name of the Illinois county and town in which you
live.
QUESTION: IN THE CHICAGO AREA, WHO CAN
I CALL TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT CANADA GEESE?
ANSWER: The Chicago area is home to large numbers of resident Canada
geese that result in a wide range of goose-human interactions. For further
information you may call us, or please see our Canada Goose web page.
QUESTION: HOW DO I GET NATIONAL PARK ACCESS
PERMITS, CAMPING PERMITS, GOLDEN EAGLE PASSPORTS, OR ENROLL IN OTHER
ACCESS PROGRAMS TO NATIONAL
PARKS?
ANSWER: Camping and other access permits for National Parks are administered
by the National Park Service, another agency
within the U.S. Department of Interior.
Visit the NPS web site
for a list of National Park access permits, programs and fees.
QUESTION: WHERE CAN I GET
BOATING, HUNTING, AND FISHING INFORMATION AND LICENSES?
ANSWER: In the State of Illinois, Hunting and Fishing License sales are
administered by the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources, or their licensed commercial vendors, which include
bait shops, gun and sporting goods stores, and many major retail department
stores. Boat registration is also administered by IDNR.
QUESTION: WHERE CAN I GET A FEDERAL "DUCK STAMP?"
ANSWER: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service Issues Federal Migratory Waterfowl Stamps. These stamps are
required to hunt migratory waterfowl in the United States, and are also
popular among collectors. However, the Chicago Illinois Field Office does not
sell these stamps. Stamps can be purchased at most U.S. Postal Service
Offices, and at many major sporting goods retailers.
QUESTION: WHERE
DO I GET NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY MAPS?
ANSWER: National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps (based upon U.S
Geological Survey topographic maps) were produced by the Service. To
learn more about NWI visit the Service's NWI
web pages. NWI Maps can be purchased through various Cooperator-Run
Distribution Centers. Each Center establishes its own pricing structure,
product types and ordering procedures. For more information about NWI Map
Sales and Distribution, visit the Service's NWI
distribution web page.
QUESTION: HOW DO I REPORT A POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
SITUATION?
ANSWER: To report a Hazardous Materials situation in northeast
Illinois, you should first contact the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency at 1-800-782-7860. If your situation
involves migratory birds that appear injured or affected by hazardous
material, you may call this office at 847/381-2253, or call the Service's Law
Enforcement Branch at their Rosemont,
Illinois Office at 847/298-3250.
QUESTION: WHAT IS ECOLOGICAL SERVICES?
ANSWER: Ecological Services (ES) is a branch of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service. In the Chicago Field Office has six ES Programs or
areas of concentration, including:
- Federal Activities: Assistance for federal agencies in
analyzing impacts to fish and wildlife resources caused by projects they
fund, license, perform, or permit.
- Endangered Species: Listing and recovery of federally threatened
or endangered species, and consultation with federal agencies to ensure
their compliance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of
1973.
- Habitat Restoration: Through our Partners for Fish and Wildlife
program, and related grants, we assist private landowners and local
governments in habitat restoration activities which enhance habitat for the
Service's trust resources.
- Environmental Contaminants: Identifies and attempts to prevent
harm caused by environmental contaminants to the Service's Trust
Resources, and assists recovery of damaged habitats that support trust
species.
- Environmental Education and Outreach: Involved in various local
environmental education activities, and distributes various public
information and literature on fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.
- Watershed and Ecosystem Partnerships: Engages and provides
technical advice to local coalitions and groups with targeted ecosystem
restoration goals.
QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE SERVICE'S TRUST RESOURCES?
ANSWER: Trust resources are those
resources for which the Service has been given specific responsibilities under
federal law. These include migratory birds,
interjurisdictional fishes (fish species that may cross state lines),
federally listed threatened or endangered species, some marine mammals, and lands owned by the Service.
FOR OTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE CHICAGO
ILLINOIS FIELD OFFICE AT 847/381-2253.
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