“Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native wildlife in Southern Illinois”
When you support Free Again you:
Give animals life-saving care and a second chance in the wild * Maintain our facility and improve standards of care * Promote advocacy in the community
Free Again is situated on 5 1/2 acres north of Carbondale and Herrin. Dedicated to serving all sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife in Southern Illinois, we are the only facility in Southern Illinois licensed to take in predator birds including Bald Eagles, owls and hawks. We are Southern Illinois's largest and only all species facility. For over three decades, we have opened our doors to any wildlife in need in the area, and in addition to larger animals, take in neighborhood bunnies, squirrels, racoons, birds and opossums, providing peace of mind to neighbors who encounter these animals when in need.
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Volunteer
Free Again relies on thousands of volunteer hours each year to look after all of the animals in our care. Consider volunteering.
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Donate Supplies
We are in continual need of day to day supplies, as well as material for facility and enclosure upgrades. Please check the list of current needs.
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Sponsor an Animal
Interested in sponsoring a resident or short term rescue? Your financial support helps us nurture these animals, to set them ‘free again’
Free Again, Inc. began in 1988 by Beverly Shofstall, while working as a veterinary technician at Central Hospital for Animals in Herrin.
Free Again operates on the kind donations of supporters and volunteers, and on the 35-year commitment of Jim and Bev Shofstall as unpaid staff. For those of you who know Bev, you know that she regularly works 12-16 hour days; 365 days out of the year to make the impact of Free Again possible. As a direct result of her efforts, over 12,000 animals in Southern Illinois are ‘Free Again’. These are eagles, owls, bobcats, deer, opossums and other creatures who would not have survived without her tireless commitment.
Help support Free Again Wildlife Center by purchasing or donating gently used items critically needed to provide care and shelter for sick and injured wildlife. Thank you for choosing to help us in our mission to save wildlife.
Meet Our Resident Animals
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Vixen
Vixen is one of the sweetest animals we have had in our care. She came to us with a broken leg, after she escaped from a domestic situation and was struck by a car. She has been with us for 3 years.
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Osiris
The older of our two resident short eared owls, this tiny bird has a big personality. He came to us years ago with West Nile Virus, and resulting neurological damage which prevents him from flying.
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Rex
Found in a mailbox as a half-grown fluffy ball Rex is the “package you don’t expect”. He grew into an intelligent vulture, and is one of our best behaved educational birds. He loves getting out to Vulture Fest, and showing off for kids in the community.
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Hoot (in need of a name)
Our resident Great Horned owl is intelligent, alert and a bit mischievous. With his big yellow eyes and deep hooting voice, he is the quintessential owl of storybooks.
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Chinook
If it’s tricks you’re after, Chinook is your cat. Bobcat that is. She has been fostered at Free Again the last two years. Her owner had her fully declawed, and she is thus unable to hunt in the wild.
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Bald Eagles
We have two resident bald eagles. These beautiful birds make quite the pair. They came to Free Again separately with broken wings; one was hit by a car, and the other one came in with a gunshot injury.