URBANA, Ill. — Every box turtle has a story to tell. These charismatic, long-lived turtles are omnivorous and use both land and water ecosystems, which makes them a good indicator of how strong the overall ecosystem is.
In the last 18 years, the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at University of Illinois has assessed the health of more than 4,000 turtles to better understand the threats to this species and create strategies to save them. Explore what they’ve learned and how you can help with a free webinar “Saving the World, One Box Turtle at a Time” from University of Illinois Extension at 1 p.m. on Aug. 21. Sign up at go.illinois.edu/EETurtle.
The session will be led by Illinois Extension natural resources, environment, and energy staff and presented by Dr. Matt Allender, clinical associate professor and director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this webinar, contact Erin Garrett at emedvecz@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. All sessions are recorded and available to watch on YouTube within a few weeks.
Everyday Environment explores the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world. From water, air, energy, plants, and animals to the complex interactions within these elements, we aim to unravel the ties that link us to our environment through podcasts, blogs, webinars, and videos. The fall 2025 series explores Illinois wildlife and the birds, mammals, amphibians, and other creatures we share the state with. Get program updates by subscribing to the Everyday Environment newsletter at go.illinois.edu/EESubscribe.
To connect with Extension natural resources, environment, and energy staff about a program or for a consultation, visit go.illinois.edu/NREEstaff. Extension’s natural resources, environment, and energy program provides research-based education for awareness and action to sustain healthy environments and ecosystems that support quality living and resilient communities. Extension staff empower people across Illinois to make a difference through the Master Naturalist, Climate Steward, and Watershed Steward volunteer and training programs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.