May 1, 2024
Invasive plants are a big problem in natural landscapes in Illinois. These species can impact our native plant species and reduce the quality of habitat for wildlife. Managing invasive plants is a year-round endeavor but it pays to know what the right time is to conduct management to be most efficient and successful. Here’s the management activities best suited for springtime.
MoreMay 1, 2024
In mid-February, two male ring-necked pheasants wandered through our yard on the north edge of town. As temperatures warm and days grow longer, rooster pheasants disperse across the landscape, establish crowing territories and begin behaviors to attract hens. The annual effort to maintain the species begins again.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Some years ago, it was shocking to learn that one of my favorite ornamental shrubs, burning bush (Euonymus alatus), is invasive. It took a while for this news to sink in, and after seeing it invade woodlands across southern Illinois, I finally came to terms with the bad news.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Tallgrass prairie once covered 22 million acres across Illinois but just 2,000 acres of native, remnant prairie remains across the state. Illinois still has several tallgrass areas for us to explore. Take your binoculars and camera and look for a diversity of grassland wildlife within these areas.
MoreMay 1, 2024
When it comes to conserving pollinators, you can have your own diverse assemblage of wildlife on your property by building a “pollinator garden.” A bed with a small suite of colorful, flowering native plants will attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and even some colorful songbirds.
MoreMay 1, 2024
The bobcat is a charismatic species, shrouded in mystery and a species that challenges and captivates wildlife enthusiasts. Once rare in the state, the return of the bobcat to Illinois is a testament to the intricate dance between wildlife and the environment. Learn how volunteer reports from the public helped wildlife professions expand our understanding of bobcat populations and distributions.
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The Illinois Pollinators website developed by University of Illinois Extension is beautifully designed and provides a wealth of information about pollinators and starting your own pollinator garden. Divided into six main sections, you will want to spend time exploring this eye-catching and thought-provoking resource. Read on for a taste of what you can expect to find.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Dr. Robbie Emmet and fellow biologists at the Illinois Natural History Survey combined data from multiple bird surveys conducted within Illinois. They created a new statistical model that combined data from The North American Breeding Bird Survey, eBird, and targeted upland game counts conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to predict the effects of landscape composition on the occurrence of northern bobwhites and ring-necked pheasants throughout the state.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Jared Trickey is a firm believer in the adage, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Whether he is helping the public, through his new role as an Illinois District Wildlife Biologist, or helping to train individuals through his volunteer work, Trickey believes that best practices in wildlife resource preservation involve teachable moments.
MoreMay 1, 2024
The diverse and unique habitats of southwestern Illinois’ Lower Mississippi River Bottomlands Natural Division host rare reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and fishes. Plan a trip to southwestern Illinois where you will find soggy landscapes reminiscent of swamps of the South that hold a gleam of promise as home to an amazing diversity of plants and animals.
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A message from Chief Mike McClelland
Welcome to the May 2024 edition of the online magazine OutdoorIllinois Journal, featuring timely, seasonally based stories about the Prairie State’s wildlife resources, with an expansion of content to include a broader range of subjects—including endangered and threatened species and Illinois’ unique, high-quality habitats and the people working to preserve, protect and manage these resources.
