Wildlife 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...

Saving the World, One Box Turtle at a Time

Box turtles are charismatic, long-lived turtles that are omnivorous and use both land and water ecosystems. These characteristics make them uniquely sensitive to the health of their environments and good indicators of overall ecosystem health. In the last 18 years, the Wildlife Epidemiology...

Wildlife Benefits of Native Shrubs

Native shrubs provide resources that have significant benefits to native insects and wildlife. Explore a variety of native shrubs, their value to native insects and their role in conservation efforts.

Providing Suitable Woodland Habitat for Secretive Animals

Woodlands across Illinois are home to many secretive animals that creep, crawl, or fly such as salamanders, snakes, and bats. We tend to think these animals prefer dark and cold spaces, but this is not always the best habitat for them. Explore how you can provide habitat for these animals in...

Create a Winter Bird Haven

The garden doesn’t stop being a haven in the winter months. Lots of wildlife can use your yard for over-wintering and provide a delightful spectacle on cold days as we look out dreaming of warmer weather. Attracting birds to the winter landscape can be incredibly rewarding for people of all ages...