Penitentiary Glen Reservation

My mother and I found a sickly looking bird along the side of the road today. We came back a few hours later and found it still lying in the road, so we decided to take him out of the road. We fed it, gave it water, and decided it would be best if we took it to penitentiary Glen. When we arrived at the Penitentiary, we were told by the woman at the front desk that it was an invasive species. Instead of simply refusing to care for the animal and allowing us to leave with the it to find an alternate solution to helping it. She grabbed the box and told us that they were going to perform a «check up» on the animal as she was walking to the staff door. A few minutes later she came back out and told us that the bird was currently being put down. We told her to go back inside and stop the procedure, another few minutes passed when the woman finally came back out and said that the bird was put down. The Penitentiary had no right to make the decision to put that bird down before consulting us, nor did the woman have any right to lie to us about it receiving a «check up» when in actuality they were just going to euthanize the animal. We will never return to Penitentiary Glen nor will we ever take another animal there that is in need of help, we will take it somewhere else that might be a little more honest with us instead.

I love Penitentiary Glen! It’s a great place for kids and adults alike. The wildlife rehabilitation area gives you an up-​close look at various woodland creatures as they are nursed back to health – I was able to see a variety of birds during my visit, including a «teenage» bald eagle! The displays inside the wildlife center are interesting, and I got a kick out of trying to spot the queen in their bee colony. I also recommend birdwatching from one of the indoor rocking chairs; it’s an excellent way to rest up after a long day of hiking!
Speaking of hiking, the park hosts a plethora of trails, which are well-​maintained and lovely. The trails aren’t particularly difficult to traverse (though some can be lengthy), perfect for a leisurely stroll or the occasional runner.
And if you have little ones, definitely make a point to visit when the mini railroad is in operation. Riding a tiny locomotive through the park remains a cherished childhood memory of mine, and it’s something that I think most kids would get a kick out of. I believe the park also hosts a variety of other events as well, from art shows to stargazing parties. Truly, there’s something for everyone at Penitentiary Glen!

Excellent park part of Lake Metroparks in southern Lake County that offers well-​maintained trails, grounds, picnic areas and shelters. There is also a nature center good for kids and a wildlife center that rehabilitates animals hurt by humans (e.g. vehicular strikes, attacks by pets).
Trails are wide, well-​maintained and constructed, popular with trail runners. Snowshoeing is popular here in winter months.
There’s even a little kiddie railroad run by a local rail enthusiast group.
Today, we were here to tender a poor baby groundhog our beagle got a hold of in our backyard but didn’t quite kill. The weak animal survived the night so we brought him here to the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center.
The intake staff were very kind and professional, accepting the little guy with a short interview process. They even gave us an ID code so that we may track his recovery process. We know he’s in safe hands and if he has any chance of survival it’ll be here.
NOTE: They don’t rescue all animals due to state laws prohibiting intake of deer, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and muted swans. But they do a great job rehabilitating squirrels, rabbits, and birds releasing those who aren’t human-​imprinted back into the wild.
A truly noble cause in a world where wildlife continues to bear the brunt of continued human expansion.