A non-profit animal rescue successfully rescued a sick sandhill crane, which is in critical condition, in Lake County following a rescue attempt that spanned nine days.
Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation said that they were contacted by a woman on December 4 reporting a sandhill crane in need of rescue.
The organization is a licensed non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center based in Barrington that cares for injured and orphaned wildlife.
The sandhill crane had been standing outside of Prairieview School in Hainesville for a couple of days.
The woman who reported it said that there were originally a pair of cranes but the mate had either been killed or already migrated.
Flint Creek Wildlife made a rescue attempt that evening but the crane was not there when they arrived.
They attempted to track her footsteps in the snow but were never able to locate the animal.
Flint Creek Wildlife received a call regarding a sandhill crane four days later. The animal was walking around on a frozen pond and in fields bordering a townhouse development in Grayslake.
It was approximately six miles south of the original location through grasslands and farmlands.
The non-profit went to the area to attempt a rescue but the crane was able to fly approximately 30 feet high, Flint Creek Wildlife said.
The sandhill crane would fly a hundred yards before it would come down again. Multiple unsuccessful attempts were made to catch it.
The crane walked into a garage the next day and the homeowner closed the garage door and contacted Flint Creek Wildlife to come out, ending the nine-day ordeal on Friday.
The crane has severe respiratory issues and Flint Creek Wildlife said they started it on medications hope that it can be saved but it was in critical condition.
“Rescuing wildlife can be such a difficult proposition. This crane’s prognosis would have been better if we could have rescued it sooner, but a wild animal capable of escaping a rescue effort will do so,” Flint Creek Wildlife said.
“Flight-capable birds can be very difficult if not impossible to rescue despite our best efforts and no matter what equipment we use in the rescue attempt. We are happy to have the crane in our care at this point,” the organization said.
“Fingers crossed for a recovery! You know that we will do everything possible to save it. We owe thanks to many people on this one,” the organization added.