Luty2025
Feb 3, 2025
  • Aquatic Organisms
  • Land
  • People
  • Wildlife
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Centennial as a State Agency: 1925–2025
by Chris Young

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.

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Feb 3, 2025
  • Recreation
Hunting Sheds
by Steven Beltran

After the deer hunting season has ended many passionate sportsmen and sportswomen continue the adventure outdoors in search of the ever-elusive antler shed. A successful shed hunter has to consider a few things: when, where and how to hunt.

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Feb 3, 2025
  • Aquatic Organisms
  • Wildlife
Tales From Beneath the Surface
by Kathy Andrews Wright

On a visit to a state park, the author and her companions found a pond that usually held water was dry. Scrambling down the bank, they employed their detective skills to explore the dry pond bed, discovering natural history evidence of life in an aquatic habitat.

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Feb 3, 2025
  • Aquatic Organisms
  • People
  • Research
Finding the Elusive Salamander Mussel Alive in Illinois After a Century in Obscurity
by Sarah Douglass, Mark Davis

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.

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Feb 3, 2025
  • Wildlife
Plovers All Over: The winter life of Great Lakes piping plovers
by Laura Kammin

As a federally endangered species, piping plovers have a host of wildlife agencies and volunteers looking out for them. Illinois fans nervously await the plovers’ migratory return each spring. Fortunately, dedicated birders watch for the plovers throughout their migratory routes and on their wintering grounds.

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Witamy w Listopad wydaniu magazynu online OutdoorIllinois Journal z 2024 roku, prezentującym aktualne, sezonowe historie o zasobach przyrodniczych Stanu Prairie, z rozszerzoną zawartością obejmującą szerszy zakres tematów, w tym gatunki zagrożone i chronione oraz unikalne, wysokiej jakości siedliska Illinois i ludzi pracujących nad ich zachowaniem, ochroną i zarządzaniem.

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Listopad2024
Nov 1, 2024
Przywracanie Torfowiska Volo Bog
by Jonathan Sabath, Stephen Packard, Christos Economou, Heidi Gibson, Betty Sollman

Ciężko pracujący, współpracujący zespół wolontariuszy i pracowników podejmuje pionierską restaurację na terenie Volo Bog State Natural Area, jedynego torfowiska z otwartą wodą w Illinois. Mchy torfowce, dzbaneczniki, kalie, storczyki – wraz z niezliczonymi rzadkimi grzybami, pająkami, motylami i innymi organizmami przystosowanymi do tego niezwykłego siedliska – mogą zależeć od tych działań, mających na celu przywrócenie naturalnej równowagi tam, gdzie opanowały je gatunki inwazyjne.

Nov 1, 2024
Chicago No Limits Fishing – Pomoc Weteranom w Łowieniu Ryb
by Jonathan Schlesinger

Chicago No Limits Fishing organizuje wyprawę wędkarską dla członków Vaughan Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America, działającego przy szpitalu Hines VA w Maywood. Odrobina zachęty i integracyjne środowisko wystarczyły, aby otworzyć ekscytujący świat wędkarstwa i żeglarstwa dla uczestników.

Nov 1, 2024
Monarcha: Działanie na rzecz szansy ochrony naszego życia
by Iris Caldwell, Natalie Lynn Lichtenbert, Dan Salas

Populacja wschodnich motyli monarchów osiągnęła historycznie niskie liczby od połowy lat 90. XX wieku. Zmiany klimatyczne, praktyki użytkowania gruntów i przekształcanie łąk są głównymi czynnikami, które zmniejszyły dostępne siedliska na tym obszarze. W odpowiedzi mieszkańcy Illinois współpracują z ludźmi z całej Ameryki Północnej, aby pomóc odwrócić te niekorzystne trendy.

Nov 1, 2024
Jak Zostać Myśliwym w Illinois
by Lauren Dean

Lauren Dean, która została wprowadzona w świat polowań jako dziecko, dziś poluje nie tylko dla satysfakcji z pozyskiwania własnego mięsa, ale także po to, by spędzać czas w lesie z mężem i psem oraz doświadczać niezwykłych momentów w naturze. Nowa w Illinois, swoje sukcesy w nauce przepisów i znajdowaniu miejsc do polowań przypisuje programowi Illinois Learn to Hunt.

Nov 1, 2024
Czarny karp w Illinois: Inwazyjne zagrożenie dla rodzimych ekosystemów
by Gretchen Steele

Podobnie jak wiele innych stanów, Illinois zmaga się z problemem gatunków inwazyjnych, a jednym z nich, budzącym szczególne zaniepokojenie, jest czarny karp. Ten ryba dennożerna jest żarłocznym drapieżnikiem małży, stanowiąc poważne zagrożenie dla rodzimych populacji małży oraz dla przemysłu rybackiego. Dowiedz się, jak agencje stanowe i federalne pracują nad rozwiązaniem problemu czarnego karpia w Illinois oraz w innych częściach dorzecza rzeki Missisipi.

Nov 1, 2024
Eagles Abound at the Fulton-Mason Eagle Day, February 1, 2025
by Christa Christensen

It’s that time of year again—cold and dreary and a great time to search for American bald eagles. The Fulton-Mason Eagle Day is a popular winter event for all ages that celebrates the American bald eagle and wildlife in general. Make plans to attend the February 1, 2025 event to participate in the hands-on activities and wildlife viewing opportunities at multiple locations in Fulton and Mason counties.

Nov 1, 2024
Youth are the Future: Trends in Youth Hunting Participation in Illinois
by Eric Walberg, Craig Miller, Dan Stephens, Brent Williams

Hunting participation in the United States has declined over the past several decades. A special youth waterfowl hunting season to reverse, or at least mitigate, declines in hunting participation started in 1996. After 27 years an important question remains: has the youth waterfowl hunting season had an impact on youth hunting participation in Illinois?

Nov 1, 2024
Bass Fishing a Growing Competitive Sport for Youth
by Tad Locher

According to the American Sportfishing Association, more than 24 million people annually participate in bass fishing. In 2009, the Illinois High School Association included bass fishing as a competitive team sport, with 324 Illinois high schools participating in the 2024 spring season. In addition to the school-sanctioned events, competitive tournament trails have been created to provide youth anglers with opportunities to fish all year long.

Nov 1, 2024
CPO Field Checks
by Steven Beltran

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.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Recreation
  • Wildlife
When Bow Hunting Fails, Just Watch the Black-capped Chickadees
by Thomas Hintz

When you are in the deer stand during archery deer season and the deer aren’t present you have time to watch wildlife from a new perspective. Join author Tom Hintz as he recounts his first-ever archery hunt and enjoying the moment with black-capped chickadees.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Research
  • Wildlife
Can They Hack It? A Decade of Efforts to Re-Establish Osprey in Illinois
by Kaleigh Gabriel

The osprey was listed as a state-endangered species in Illinois in 1997. It struggled to thrive following years of habitat loss and the degradation of waterways essential to their food source and nest site selection. In 2012, Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologists Patrick McDonald and Joe Kath designed a program to give osprey a boost in building a self-sustaining breeding population in Illinois.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Aquatic Organisms
  • Recreation
Snagging Salmon, A Fall Tradition
by Steven Beltran

Chinook and coho salmon migrate to the Lake Michigan shorelines each fall looking for a place to spawn, signaling the onset of the Illinois snagging season. More than just an opportunity to land a large fish, for many anglers this unique approach to fishing is a cultural event.

Nov 1, 2024
  • People
  • Recreation
  • Wildlife
Much Like in Real Estate, the First Rule in Trapping is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
by Tim Kelley

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.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Land
  • Recreation
  • Wildlife
The Muskrat, A Wetland Architect
by Kevin Wright

Even though muskrat harvest has declined, and their populations are lower today, there are still plenty of muskrats in Illinois. Grab some binoculars and perhaps a camera and get out and learn first-hand about muskrats and how these interesting animals utilize wetland habitats.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Land
  • Wildlife
A Society of Acorn Relocators
by Patty Gillespie

An acorn fallen on a lawn doth not a mighty oak make. It was that fact that made me gather acorns and move them elsewhere. As I did so, I discovered that other creatures did likewise.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Land
  • Research
  • Wildlife
Bats Go Where the Trees Are in Cities
by Sean Obrochta, Joy OKeefe

The Bats in Small Cities Project was organized to learn how urban bat ecology relates to the context of the city, specifically to learn how bats respond to their environment in a city with lots of tree cover versus one with little tree cover. Check out the findings here.

Nov 1, 2024
  • Land
  • Wildlife
The Essence of Illinois
by Scott Crist

Several lines of evidence demonstrate the recurrence of fires in our past: layers of charcoal in sediments, burn scars on trees rings, journals of pioneers and historical records. Today, Shawnee National Forest personnel, along with numerous state and local agencies, non-profit organizations and private landowners, are increasing their use of prescribed fire to manage natural communities.