Feb 3, 2025
On the timescale of nature, the passing of 100 years seems almost unimportant. But, the formation of the Illinois Department of Conservation, later to become the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, came at a time when coordinated action was needed to restore wildlife populations and manage those resources for the future.
MoreFeb 3, 2025
Based on eDNA information, a team of researchers donned waders and wetsuit gear to search under slab habitats in the Sangamon River. Encountering hidden catfish, crayfish and mudpuppies, they also located the first salamander mussels encountered in more than a century. Their uncommon dedication reminds us that species thought to have been long lost can be found again.
MoreFeb 3, 2025
Oswald, a new addition to IDNR Headquarters in Springfield, is no stranger to wildlife conservation efforts and the outdoors. With past experience as part of a team working towards wildlife disease and damage management, Oswald hopes to promote a sense of teamwork and cooperation within IDNR to help wildlife biologists (and their projects) be successful in their conservation efforts.
MoreFeb 3, 2025
Environmental Science students at Pontiac Township High School have been deeply involved in conservation for several years. They’ve drafted legislation, monitored water quality, planned roadside plantings, and consulted with hospital and state agencies. Now they have taken leadership of implementing the 30×30 America the Beautiful initiative in Illinois.
MoreFeb 3, 2025
Building habitat on private land isn’t easy. That’s why when Barb Heyen wanted to improve part of the Hardin County property that has been in her family since the Civil War, she formed a “conservation team.” With the help of her team, 120 acres has been converted from low quality pasture to quail- and monarch-focused habitat.
MoreFeb 3, 2025
Illinois’ expansive outdoor spaces provide a respite from the day-to-day stresses of life. But for some outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers, spending time in these natural areas could come with an unexpected health risk: Lyme disease.
MoreFeb 3, 2025
A sandy-colored, 7-inch-long beach-loving bird has made history several times over in Illinois. Once a common summer resident along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the piping plover is now a federally endangered species. In 2024, pairs of birds nested in not one but two locations in Illinois.
MoreNov 1, 2024
What should you do when an Illinois Conservation Police Officer checks you in the field? Many factors come into play when a field check is performed. This article provides a few suggestions for a basic standard check.
MoreNov 1, 2024
Many people are familiar with the saying that pertains to the real estate business: “The First Rule in real estate is Location, Location, Location!” That same axiom might be properly applied to trapping, as well. This article highlights some elements that help trappers decide where to make a set and how those decisions can change with changing circumstances.
MoreNov 1, 2024
A hard-working, collaborative team of volunteers and staff are embarking on a pioneering restoration at Volo Bog State Natural Area, Illinois’ only open-water bog. Sphagnum mosses, pitcher plants, calla lilies, orchids – along with countless rare fungi, spiders, butterflies, and other creatures adapted to this remarkable habitat – may depend on this effort to recreate a natural balance where invasive species have taken over.
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A message from Chief, Division of Wildlife Resources Mike Wefer
Welcome to the February 2025 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.
