Hampshire, Illinois · Kane County · Facts checked Oct 2026
Hampshire gets its animal control from Kane County, under contract.
The Village of Hampshire contracts its animal control services with Kane County Animal Control.1 Inside village limits, animal complaints and strays go to the Hampshire Police first, and officers bring in the county when needed.1 For a wild animal living in a house, Kane County sends you to a licensed wildlife removal service.3
Who handles an animal problem in Hampshire?
| What's happening | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Someone was bitten or scratched by a wild animal | Wash the wound with soap and water and see a doctor right away. The health department or animal control should also be told.8 |
| A bat is loose inside your home | If you woke up with it in the room, or it was near a child, keep the bat and call your doctor or the health department.8 Kane County Animal Control picks up a bat only when someone may have been exposed,3 and inside the village that request starts with Hampshire Police.1 |
| Any animal complaint inside village limits | Hampshire Police. For an emergency, dial 911. Otherwise use the non-emergency line, which Kane County dispatch answers: (630) 232-8400.2 Officers contact Kane County Animal Control when it's needed.1 |
| An animal problem outside village limits | In unincorporated areas, Kane County Animal Control handles it directly: (630) 232-3555.1 |
| A stray dog or cat | Hampshire Police, (630) 232-8400.1, 2 Not a wildlife operator. |
| A calm animal living in your attic, walls, chimney or under the deck | Kane County Animal Control mainly handles domestic animals. It sends a wild animal in a house, or bats settled in an attic, to a licensed wildlife removal service.3 That can be this site's advertiser or anyone on the Illinois DNR list. |
The Wildlife Line isn't part of the Village of Hampshire or Kane County.
Does Hampshire have its own animal rules?
For animals, the village borrows Kane County's rules: its code adopts the county's animal control ordinances by reference, changing only one rule, on invisible pet fencing (Village Code 2-11-9).4 The whole village lies in Kane County.7 Trash is where Hampshire writes its own rules:
- Lids or tied bags. Garbage goes in watertight metal or plastic containers with close-fitting covers, or in heavy plastic bags tied securely (Code 2-15-2).5
- A day at the curb, no more. Containers can go out no more than 24 hours before the scheduled pickup (Code 2-15-3).5
Oak woods on the moraine
Hampshire Forest Preserve, on Allen Road west of Route 20, is a large woodland with 12 miles of trails.6 Its oak-hickory forest grows along the crest of a glacial moraine, and the forest preserve district notes that the village and many rural subdivisions now cover most of that same high ground.6 Think something from out there has moved indoors? Check the signs against the guides for squirrels in the attic, bats in the house and a raccoon in the chimney.
What's making that noise?
The guide to noises in the attic at night can help you put a name to the sound. If an animal turns up in a living space late in the evening, see after-hours help.
Sources for this page
- Village of Hampshire, Animal Control. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Village of Hampshire, Police Department. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Kane County Animal Control, FAQ. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Hampshire Village Code, section 2-11-9 (animal control). Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Hampshire Village Code, section 2-15-2 and section 2-15-3 (garbage). Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Hampshire Forest Preserve. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 places by county, Illinois. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Public Health, Rabies (animal bites; bats in a sleeping area). Checked Oct 2026.
Written and checked by The Wildlife Line. Spot an error? Tell us through the About page.
Also: Kane County · Pingree Grove · Gilberts · Huntley