Invasive Species

Events

Invasive Species Q&A Livestream

May 21, 2026

2026 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium

May 28, 2026

County

Champaign

Introduction to Invasive Species Management

June 9, 2026 - June 12, 2026

County

Kane

Montgomery

Calhoun

Livingston

Pope

McDonough

Champaign

Introduction to Invasive Species Management - Montgomery County Field Day

June 10, 2026

County

Montgomery

More Events

Blog Posts

Invasive carp impact Illinois waterways

May 7, 2026

On one warm afternoon last June, I suddenly throttled down the boat as a barrage of silver carp leaped out of the water and pummeled my assistants...

Telling the story of escaped ornamental plants

April 30, 2026

Have you ever had the sense that something is out of place, something just doesn’t belong? Years ago, on a fine summer day, I was hiking with a...

What makes a pest "invasive?"

April 23, 2026

Not all insects or pathogens that arrive from elsewhere are harmful. Many settle quietly into their new surroundings without causing noticeable...

Protecting Illinois from invasive pest threats

April 23, 2026

The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program, CAPS, focuses on the early detection and...

More Blogs

News Releases

A group of people in the woods watch a man demonstrate something

May 5, 2026

Find solutions for managing plant pests with hands-on training in Introduction to Invasive Species Management course
URBANA, Ill. — When it comes to managing invasive plants, having hands-on experience can be the difference between stopping an invasion before it takes hold and watching a single species overrun a forest. This...

March 30, 2026

Find solutions to manage non-native plants and animals at Invasive Species Symposium
URBANA, Ill. — From new invasive species threats to updates on how to manage them, the world of invasive species is always changing. Learn about emerging invasives, explore management options, share ideas,...

A burned plot in a forest in late winter

March 26, 2026

Frequent prescribed burns help young oaks thrive despite invasive grasses, Illinois study finds
URBANA, Ill. — As winter comes to a close, many people look forward to warmer temperatures and spring blooms, but for land managers working to preserve or restore oak-dominated forests, it is prescribed burn...

February 20, 2026

McHenry County Agronomy Update Spotlights Disease Pressures and Weed Resistance
WOODSTOCK, Ill. — The University of Illinois Extension brought together producers, agribusiness professionals, and Certified Crop Advisers on February 18 for the annual McHenry County Agronomy Update, a program focused on the challenges farmers are likely to face in the 2026...

More News

Videos

Wild and Wily Animal Invaders

Across the U.S., including Illinois, many non-native wildlife species have found their way into new environments where they can be a threat. Explore the history of these animal invasions and the tug-of-war between the biology of animals, including humans, and efforts to protect our native...