May 4, 2022
When considering the effects of predators on their environment, the first thing that comes to mind is that predators kill prey through hunting. However, reality is more complex.
MoreMay 2, 2022
Lesser scaup are the most abundant diving duck in North America, but their population numbers have been in decline for almost 50 years. To help inform scaup management decisions, trematode infection experiments were conducted with captive scaup at WIU and Forbes Biological Station.
MoreMay 2, 2022
The lesser scaup population began to decline in the mid-1980s, and numbers have not returned to what they were before this drop. One theory to explain this decline, and the lack of recovery, suggests that a decrease in food quantity and quality at migration stopover sites may be the cause.
MoreMay 2, 2022
Although bald eagles may be increasing in Illinois, that may not be the case throughout their range. A report casting doubt on the long-term growth of North America’s bald eagle and golden eagle populations recently gained national attention.
MoreMay 2, 2022
Starting the route one hour after sunset, ours was a slow and circuitous route winding through the countryside at 10 to 15 mph. Spotlights illuminated both sides of the roadway, one operated by IDNR Furbearer Biologist Stan McTaggart and the other by Pat McDonald, Wildlife Biometrician for the IDNR Forest Wildlife Program.
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A message from Chief Ann Holtrop
Welcome to the May 2022 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.
