State guide
Illinois
Illinois relies heavily on county animal-control agencies for rabies control, bite investigations, registration, and nuisance-animal enforcement, although Chicago runs its own city department. State wildlife information and the official licensed wildlife rehabilitator list are published through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually county animal control is the primary local agency in Illinois, though some large municipalities—especially Chicago—operate their own city animal-control department.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Illinois guidance says animal bites should be reported immediately to the local health department and to the local or county animal-control office.
- State rabies contact
- Illinois Department of Public Health State Public Health Veterinarian
Official resources in Illinois
State rabies page explaining what to do after animal bites or bat exposures and whom to notify.
Official IDNR page that links to the Illinois Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator’s List.
Official IDNR rehabilitator list PDF for licensed wildlife rehabilitators in Illinois.
Official IDPH guidance document that identifies the State Public Health Veterinarian.
Key facts for Illinois
- IDPH says the local health department or the county animal control office should be notified immediately after an animal bite.
- IDPH says all animal bites should be reported to the local animal control office.
- IDPH says bat exposures should be reported to the local health department as soon as possible.
- IDPH’s laboratory manual says rabies specimens must be submitted through local animal control, the local health department, or a veterinarian.
- Cook County’s animal-control department says its mission includes quarantine protocol for all animal bite incidents.
- Chicago Animal Care and Control says it provides sheltering, pet placement, education, and animal law enforcement.
Local animal control offices in Illinois
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Animal Care and Control Cook | Chicago | 312.747.1406 | City department page says it protects public safety and ensures humane care through sheltering, pet placement, education, and animal law enforcement. |
| Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control Cook | Bridgeview | (708) 974-6140 | County department says its mission includes rabies prevention, quarantine protocol for bite incidents, and cruelty prevention. |
| Lake County Animal Care and Control Lake | Libertyville | 847-377-4700 | County program investigates nuisance, cruelty, stray, roaming, injured, dangerous, vicious, and biting animal complaints. |
| Will County Animal Protection Services Will | Joliet | (815) 462-5633 | County page says staff respond to reports regarding bites to humans caused by animals and handle a comprehensive county animal-protection program. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- After a bite or bat exposure, notify both your local health department and the local animal-control office right away; Illinois state guidance mentions both.
- If you find injured or orphaned wildlife, use the IDNR rehabilitator list before moving the animal and confirm the rehabber can take that species.
- If you live in Chicago, use Chicago Animal Care and Control; elsewhere in Illinois, start with your county animal-control office unless your municipality has its own program.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Illinois's population center, for comparison only):
- Lake County Animal Control, Indiana · about 51 miles
- City of Racine Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Wisconsin · about 101 miles
- South Bend Animal Resource Center, Indiana · about 109 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Permits, Licenses, and Applications
Website →Phone: (217) 782-6302 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Illinois page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.