Sometimes being a good neighbor is hard.
We encounter wildlife every day, whether we realize it or not - the bird chirping outside our window, the bug in our basement, the deer we pass on our drive to work. The insects, birds, amphibians, mammals, and other creatures we share the world with are all part of an intricate web of connections that makes life on our planet possible. That biodiversity makes for strong, resilient ecosystems that clean water, produce oxygen, capture carbon, and provide habitat for pollinators who support our food production systems.
But globally, wildlife face immense challenges, including the loss and decline of vital habitats, competition from invasive plants and animals, and unhealthy air, water, and soil due to pollution. Some wildlife populations are facing extinction due to unsustainable practices and the threat of global climate change. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to coexist.
At Illinois Extension, our wildlife experts can help you navigate wildlife interactions with research-based information you can trust. Explore steps to take during an encounter, where to find wildlife, how to engage with stewardship opportunities, how to interact with nature safely, information about related careers, and more.
Talk to a Wildlife Expert
At Extension, we help people find solutions to life's challenges. Trust recommendations backed by University of Illinois researchers on your interactions with wildlife.
Support Wildlife
You can help support wildlife populations by taking steps to be an environmental steward. Together, we’re learning and sharing ideas and resources about land stewardship to restore and rejuvenate disturbed landscapes and benefit people and wildlife.
Connect with Nature
Discover the art of observing and connecting with the natural world, help preserve the natural world by contributing to community science, and launch your environmental career or find opportunities to continue your education.
Explore some of the problems humans may encounter when an animal shows up in our yards with Extension wildlife expert Peggy Anesi. We talk about what is the most destructive wild animal and ways to minimize their efforts to eat our landscapes as well as conservation efforts that can be done in...
University of Illinois ornithologist Michael Ward discusses the plight of birds. Are the declining populations dire? Why are Midwestern migrating birds being found in shark stomachs in the Gulf of Mexico? Ward tells what is being done across the borders, in Illinois agricultural lands, and how...