Sep 8, 2023
To continue adding to our understanding of wild turkey ecology, behavior, and their response to forest management activities, Illinois Natural History Survey researchers are studying hen turkeys in western, central and south-central Illinois.
MoreSep 8, 2023
La erosión costera es un problema que ha afectado durante mucho tiempo las costas de los Grandes Lagos. La investigación a través del Programa Futuros Puertos Saludables (Healthy Port Futures) de la Iniciativa de Restauración de los Grandes Lagos está probando la efectividad de los Rompeolas Sumergidos, también conocidos como “Rubble Ridges.”
MoreAug 1, 2023
It was the complicated relationship between orchids and their fungal associates that first captured the attention of Dr. Betsy Esselman. Read on to learn more about the symbiotic relationship between fungi and the Illinois endangered spring ladies’ tresses.
MoreAug 1, 2023
Author Joey He, a member of the Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory at the Illinois Natural History Survey, reflects on his experience assisting the USDA-WS sample Illinois wild white-tailed deer for SARS-CoV-2 during the 2022 Illinois firearm season.
MoreAug 1, 2023
Two students at Lewis and Clark Community College conducted separate projects on the bush honeysuckle to try and help land managers, volunteer groups and agencies manage and monitor this invasive shrub. Read on to learn about their techniques and findings.
MoreAug 1, 2023
How well we can see the stars is a bellwether of sorts. Along with blocking our view of the stars, light pollution from artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts many natural behaviors of plants and animals. Read on to learn about the ecological consequences of leaving the lights on.
MoreAug 1, 2023
Identifying the best method to detect nutria is the focus of an SIU-C research project. Information collected through sign surveys, camera traps, detection dogs and environmental DNA will help biologists better understand the potential distribution of nutria, and guide future management efforts.
MoreAug 1, 2023
Researchers have debunked a popular meme about Virginia opossums eating ticks. Careful analysis of opossum stomach contents (yes, the work of some researchers!) revealed many items, including worms, a French fry, broken glass and a shrew…but no ticks.
MoreAug 1, 2023
Avian influenza, or the bird flu, as it has come to be known, has been wreaking havoc both in wild birds and domestic poultry across North America since early 2022. Read on to learn what is being done by the agencies tasked with tracking and responding to this devastating disease.
MoreAug 1, 2023
Feral swine are an invasive species that pose a serious threat to forest and wildlife resources in Illinois through the destruction of habitat, including sensitive natural areas, and competition with native wildlife for food and cover. Two recent publications validate the work of state and federal biologists to eradicate feral swine from the Prairie State.
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A message from Chief Mike Wefer
Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the online magazine OutdoorIllinois Journal, featuring timely, seasonally based stories about the Prairie State’s wildlife resources. We’ve prepared a variety of stories for you in this edition. Look for articles on mergansers, white-tailed deer and wood ducks; muskies, trout and bass; and bees, piping plovers, orchids and leadplant. Hear from researchers about their work on current issues. Explore Illinois’ nature preserves, waterfowl hunting areas and other places to visit.
