Cook County Forest Preserves Gets Humane Society’s Stamp of Approval for Animal Ambassador Program

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County's animal ambassador program includes this barn owl. (Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Cook County) The Forest Preserve District of Cook County's animal ambassador program includes this barn owl. (Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Cook County)

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s animal ambassador program has received a stamp of approval from the American Humane Society.

On Tuesday, forest preserve officials announced that after a lengthy process, the district had earned the American Humane Certified designation for the ambassador program.

“It’s a very, very big deal for us,” said Eileen Figel, the district’s interim general superintendent. “American Humane Society’s rigorous, science-based evaluation is the latest and most extensive third-party validation that we are providing an appropriate home and care for our ambassador animals.”

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Ambassador animals — ranging from a red-tailed hawk to a blue spotted salamander to painted turtles — live at the district’s nature centers, where they help educate visitors about the county’s native wildlife. Some were former pets, others suffered serious injuries; none can be introduced back into the wild.

In 2022, the program came under fire from animal rights activists, who raised concerns about the condition of the district’s ambassador coyote, named “Rocky” by the activists.

Among their complaints: the small size of Rocky’s enclosure at the River Trail Nature Center and an observation that the coyote was demonstrating “stress pacing.”

In response, the district conducted a comprehensive review of the ambassador program, which resulted in a number of changes, including a significantly larger enclosure for Rocky. The review also contained an “Improvement Action Plan,” one of those actions being to obtain American Humane Certification to verify the welfare of animals under the district’s care.

Ambassador animals like this albino garter snake can help forest preserve visitors overcome their fear of or aversion to certain species. (Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Cook County)Ambassador animals like this albino garter snake can help forest preserve visitors overcome their fear of or aversion to certain species. (Courtesy of Forest Preserve District of Cook County)

As part of the certification process, American Humane Society undertook a week-long on-site audit that assessed factors such as housing, food, water, lighting, shade, sound, activity levels and the training of staff who are interacting with the animals.

Jodie Wiederkehr, founder and executive director of the Chicago Alliance for Animals, called the American Humane certification “smoke and mirrors.”

Wiederkehr has been chief among the activists who’ve continued to push for Rocky’s release to an animal sanctuary in Colorado.

“I think that’s a crock of bull,” Wiederkehr told WTTW News when she learned of the certification announcement. “I’d like to know where the American Human Society has been to advocate for (Rocky).”

The coyote is a pack animal and needs companionship, she said, and even with the larger enclosure, he still can’t break into a full run like he’d be able to at the proposed sanctuary.

“They don’t deserve any sort of ‘humane’ label,” Wiederkehr said of the forest preserve district. “If they’re not going to allow Rocky to go to a sanctuary … the least they could do is to provide him a companion. He’s already 6 (years old). His life is half over and he’s alone."

The district has pointed to research showing a sizable number of coyotes are solitary animals, and officials have consistently stated that independent professionals have found the coyote to be healthy and well cared for.

The American Humane Society’s audit found nothing amiss in the coyote’s living situation. In its awarding of the certification approval, the organization commended the forest preserve for its “dedicated work in providing exceptional welfare to the animals in your care while educating and inspiring the next generation of conservationists.”

This article was updated to clarify American Humane Society's nomenclature.

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors