Last Tuesday, (4/9/24) not only did numerous people come to the Forest Preserve’s board meeting to ask that they reverse the raccoon decision, but board members were also required to sit and listen for over 45 minutes while more than 90 online comments (WOW!) were read from concerned citizens, urging that this decision be overturned. The video of Tuesday’s meeting is linked below, so please feel free to watch and learn more about this issue and to see who the decision makers are.
Shortly after the public comments, the board discussed the potential project to repurpose the existing raccoon caging for other wildlife – a decision that will be voted on during tomorrow morning’s board meeting. If the board votes yes to this project, and the existing raccoon caging is torn down, then the board will be sending a clear message that raccoons will NEVER be rehabbed at Willowbrook moving forward. This then poses a question – What animal will the Forest Preserve Board remove next without reason? Bunnies? Squirrels? Geese? Hawks?
And why does the Forest Preserve want to spend $178,000 of taxpayer’s money to destroy the raccoon’s current enclosure, instead of listening to wildlife professionals and DuPage citizens who are pleading with them to reconsider? Not only that, but there are other (cheaper) alternatives that allow Willowbrook to still rehab raccoons, while also creating a new enclosure for the animals in need. But for some unknown reason, the Forest Preserve Board is deadest on this single plan and are unwilling to entertain alternate options.
Tuesday, April 15th, at 8:00am the Forest Preserve Board and Leadership Team will be meeting at their district headquarters located at 3S580 Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189 to vote on these renovation plans. Current volunteers at Willowbrook, independent rehabbers, and other DuPage citizens will attend this meeting to speak directly to the Forest Preserve President and Board to urge them to reverse the raccoon decision and to VOTE NO to renovating their current enclosure.
WE ASK THAT YOU:
1) Come and speak/show support: Come to the meeting and show that you DO NOT support the FPDDC's decision to forbid Willlowbrook from rehabilitating raccoons. You don't need to speak unless you're comfortable, just show up to support those speaking out against this policy!
2) Submit an online comment: Not from the area? Can’t make it? No worries! You can also submit a comment online that will be read during the meeting through the link below.
Link to the video - https://dupageforest.granicus.com/player/clip/1363?view_id=1&redirect=true