One of the authors in this edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal quotes the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” That sentiment is expressed in many of the stories in this edition that feature the communities working to enhance our understanding of Illinois’ natural resources. There’s the team working with the federally endangered piping plover, as well as those monitoring the highly pathogenic avian influenza and others scouring southern Illinois wetlands to determine if nutria are in Illinois. Other articles feature the work of researchers to build our understanding of COVID-19 and wildlife, a team monitoring the rubble ridges in Lake Michigan designed to curtail shoreline erosion, and the landowners and natural resource partners working to enhance habitat for the state-threatened Illinois chorus frog. These are only a few of the many ‘villages’ you’ll learn about in this issue of the OutdoorIllinois Journal.
Scroll through this edition to discover other interesting stories you’ll want to read. Take a virtual tour of the flatwoods of the Southern Till Plain Natural Division; learn about Snake Road, known for seasonal migrations of reptiles and amphibians; and explore waterfowl hunting opportunities in the Upper Illinois River Valley. Look for articles on mergansers and wood ducks and opossums; muskies and bass and trout; and bees and orchids and leadplant. That’s just the beginning of the storylines you can discover in this edition of OutdoorIllinois Journal.
Outdoor Illinois Journal is a collaborative effort led by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Divisions of Wildlife Resources, Natural Heritage, and Fisheries; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration; and the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. Funding for Outdoor Illinois Journal was made available through Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project W-147-T, the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund and the Fish Management Fund. Follow us on Facebook (/livingwithwildlifeIllinois) and Instagram (@livingwithwildlifeIllinois). |
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Aug 1, 2023 | birds, endangeredthreatenedspecies, habitatmanagementenhancement
A Warm Welcome Goes Out To Piping Plovers
Patty Gillespie
The best scenario in raising young often involves a communal effort, many people working together to provide a safe environment. This proved remarkably apt in July 2023 when three federally endangered piping plovers were translocated from where they were raised in captivity to their release site at Montrose Beach, Chicago.
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Aug 1, 2023 | fishing, regulations, riversandlakes
Rainbow Trout – A Fun Fishing Outing for the Family
Kathy Andrews Wright
If you are looking for a fun outdoor family outing this fall, want the challenge of reeling in a good-fighting fish, or are interested in a tasty, freshly harvest meal, consider the 2023 Illinois fall catchable trout season. Nearly 60 sites around the state will be opening at 5 a.m. for the October 16 start of the season.
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Aug 1, 2023 | hunting, law-enforcement, regulations, season-dates, trapping
2023-2024 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest
Kaleigh Gabriel
A preview of the 2023-2024 Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations reveals updates to laws for furbearer hunting, trapping and nuisance removal as it pertains to dens, feed beds and nest and also reiterates single shot centerfire rifle regulations which we newly adopted as of January 2023.
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Aug 1, 2023 | amphibians, birds, habitatmanagementenhancement, partnership, prairiegrassland
Frog and Quail are Friends
Brodie Eddington
The state-threatened Illinois chorus frog and northern bobwhite quail have a lot in common, particularly in the sand prairies of Illinois. Thanks to the work of partners working with private landowners, work is under way to restore habitats that benefit populations of these declining species.
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Aug 1, 2023 | birds, hunting, placestovisit, wetland
Upper Illinois River Valley Holds Immense Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities
Sam Klimas
During the migration seasons, millions of waterfowl pause at a series of backwater lakes and wetlands known in the Mississippi Flyway as the Illinois River Valley. In the fall, waterfowl hunters have a variety of options for hunting on public lands from Peoria north to Hennepin.
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Aug 1, 2023 | fish, fishing
Why are Muskies the Fish of 10,000 Casts?
Cory Suski
Muskies are affectionately known as “the fish of 10,000 casts,” and for good reason – anglers can spend years patiently working the water in hopes of landing a 48-inch monster, but with no success. University of Illinois researchers recently set out to learn why muskies strike lures. Or, more accurately, do NOT strike lures.
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