Wildlife

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Blog Posts

naturalistic gardening
Read article: Tips for gardening with nature: fall edition
Tips for gardening with nature: fall edition
I used to think fall was the time to clean up. Now I know fall is the time to prepare. When I was very small, I remember the leaves dropping...
A carpenter bee on a beebalm flower
Read article: Bees, Wasps, and Hornets
Bees, Wasps, and Hornets
Everyone loves seeing an adorable bee, covered in pollen, descending into a flower for another helping. Native bees — like many other animal...
Agricultural field that the EPA requires specific mitigations be calculated for through new Endangered Species Act labeling
Read article: Understanding new ESA label requirements for the 2026 Illinois spraying season
Understanding new ESA label requirements for the 2026 Illinois spraying season
Spraying season has officially begun in Illinois agriculture, and this year, additional steps may be necessary to make an application due to a recent...
four poison ivy leaves showing leaf variability in shape and color
Read article: On Poison Ivy
On Poison Ivy
Dealing with the effects of a “run-in” with the poison ivy plant is probably the most common negative wildlife encounter people in the Midwest...

News Releases

A brown bat in a knot hole in a tree
Illinois study reveals another reason to save the world’s trees
All over the world, from Oregon’s old-growth forests to Queensland’s eucalyptus groves, creatures depend on trees for shelter. A new analysis from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that as the climate destabilizes, the world’s...
Master Naturalist volunteers completing bat survey at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge
Master Naturalist volunteers help monitor bat populations in LaSalle County
As bat conservation efforts continue across Illinois, Master Naturalist volunteers in LaSalle County are helping researchers better understand local bat populations through acoustic monitoring surveys and public education programs.Since 2025, the University of Illinois Extension has...

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...

Uncovering the Winter Secrets of Whip-poor-wills

Often heard and rarely seen, the eastern whip-poor-will and its namesake nighttime call is an iconic Midwestern woodland bird. But like many other insect-eating birds, its numbers are declining. University of Illinois avian researchers are working to uncover the secrets of where this elusive...

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