If you have any questions about the wildlife of Crystal Lake, you can contact the Illinois Wildlife Commission, sometimes called the Illinois Fish & Wildlife Agency. Illinois game wardens address many wildlife management matters, from hunting licenses, to poaching, endangered species, and Crystal Lake wildlife management. They deal with wild animals outside the range of a pest control company, such as cougars or bears. If you have a problem with nuisance wildlife in Crystal Lake like squirrels, snakes, bats, or raccoons, the state agency is very unlikely to help. You need to hire a private company (here are their prices) such as All That's Wildlife at 815-261-1231.
Illinois State bird: Northern cardinal
State mammal: White-tailed deer
State reptile: Painted turtle
State amphibian:
State fish: Bluegill
State insect: Monarch butterfly
Illinois is a fairly long state as states go, and because of its central location in the country, it experiences both mild and extreme weather. Most of the state is humid, making for hot summers and cold winters. The majority of the state is flat prairie land, though there are some hills as you near the western boundary. Because of the vast expanses of tree-less ground, the state has an abundance of prairie dogs, small creatures that build extensive underground cities. Prairie dogs are particularly detrimental to farm equipment and livestock. The ground above the tunnel system cannot support a large machine and often causes an animal's leg to break through.
As you might expect, Illinois also has a variety of grazing animals. These animals are rarely problematic for homeowners due to the abundance of food for them in untouched wilderness. Of these grazers, bison were once numerous, but they no longer roam wild like they did in the pioneer days.
Illinois has also lost many of its large predators due to hunting and deliberate removals. Coyotes are now the primary predator, taking the place of wolves and cougars which used to populate the state. Slowly, cougars have been reintroduced, but their population is still small, and they are far from being considered the top predator in the state. Illinois does not have a breeding population of bears; however, some wandering animals from other states have crossed the border on occasion.
There are, of course, a few staple animals that plague homeowners across the continent. Raccoons are one of the most common pest animals, especially in urban areas. These masked robbers will get into any food source they can, and their meddling often draws in urban coyotes. Rats and mice are hardy enough to live in any area, and they are as densely populated in cities like Chicago as they are in New York City.
Beaver are another nuisance animal native to Illinois though they were almost completely wiped out through trapping in the 1800's. Now, the beaver population is making a comeback, and with it are concerns about flooding and tree damage. Another semi-aquatic animal making a comeback in the state is the river otter. These playful creatures were also once considered extinct within the state. Slowly, the state wildlife authorities have been monitoring the otter population to ensure it continues to grow and remain healthy.
To report a dead animal on the road, an injured bird, a lost baby squirrel, a dangerous bear, or anything like that, call animal services at (815) 459-6222
If they can't help, call the Illinois Wildlife Commission at (815) 459-6222. You can also call your local sheriff department at (815) 459-6222 - they often deal with public wildlife issues.
We are experts with all kinds of IL wildlife and are familiar with the wild animals native to Crystal Lake. If you need Crystal Lake pigeon control, geese or other bird removal, we can help. We are experts with skunks and
skunk problems, digging animals such as moles, armadillos, & groundhogs, and we offer Illinois beaver control and removal. All That's Wildlife also provides dead animal removal services. 815-261-1231
***We are state licensed and certified pest control operators***
We service McHenry County region and the towns of Crystal Lake, Alonquin, Carpentersville, Huntley, Cary, Marengo, Wooodstock, McHenry, Island Lake, Lake in the Hills, and more.
We now specialize in mouse removal using state-of-the-art techniques for complete erradication.