Wild Things 2025

Accommodating beavers on our watersheds would allow us to reap the benefits of the many  ecosystem services that they provide. Beaver ponds protect and improve water quality by absorbing nutrients from agricultural runoff, stormwater, and wastewater, and by capturing and filtering out sediment. As a keystone species, beavers create habitat that supports multiple other species of fish, birds, amphibians, and other mammals. Beaver-created wetlands also create increased floodwater storage capacity and would help our region develop climate resilience in the face of increased precipitation patterns. In fact, beaver restoration is being used around the country to restore streams and boost biodiversity. While beavers can cause flooding problems, properly designed culvert fencing and pond levelers are effective at preventing beaver damage and ultimately less expensive than the continuous cycle of trapping and killing beavers.

Nature journaling is the mindful practice of connecting with nature using all your senses, making and recording observations, and being curious. Participants will practice using words, pictures and numbers to document the natural world around them. We will discuss tools, materials and resources, explore observation prompts, and practice basic drawing skills.

Effective plant conservation at large scales requires collaboration between many community members and agencies. However, there is often a lack of formal partnerships between stakeholders who could benefit from working with each other. Native plant conservation alliances are designed to align priorities and centralize resources so that anyone working on plant conservation can access a network of beneficial partners. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be launching the Illinois Native Plant Conservation Alliance, and we are seeking to involve anyone who works with Illinois native seed collection, propagation, restoration, and conservation. We will be holding a native plant summit in fall 2025 to formally launch the alliance and welcome all interested stakeholders to join.

Photography can introduce people to the often-invisible world of insect biodiversity found all around us, in preserves to our own backyards. Photographs can be used to capture the attention of people and inspire them to learn about the insects that surround us, from the well-known Monarch butterfly to lesser-known native bees and moths. How can we use insect photography to promote preserving and maintaining natural areas and restorations while encouraging people to plant natives in their yard and overcoming a fear or dislike of these important animals?

There is increasing interest in restoring native hemi-parasitic plants such as Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis) into our ecosystems to help balance out aggressive native warm-season grasses and forbs while increasing native plant diversity, as well as using them in native landscaping. However, some of these have been a challenge to propagate in a nursery environment, or seed into new or existing restorations. We will talk about the successes and lessons learned on the propagation of several native hemi-parasitic species, and also give you practical tips and techniques to give you confidence to grow these unique plants at home or in a nursery.

Over nine years we tested the effect of introducing wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) on (1) the abundance of big bluestem and Indian grass, (2) invasion by tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), and (3) our ability to enrich the prairie with a mix of forbs and short grasses. We tested three betony introduction treatments plus a control, and two densities of betony seeding. Betony introduction decreased the average cover of tall grasses by 42% and goldenrod cover by 78% relative to levels in the control. The cover of additional prairie species was 96% greater in the betony treatment relative to control plots.

It's a problem you can't unsee. The invasive species common, or European, buckthorn is the most abundant tree in Lake County, Illinois and the Chicago region. As an issue that spans public and private lands, community engagement is vital for conservation agencies to make long-lasting progress on buckthorn removal.

Since 2015, the Lake County Forest Preserves has crafted methods and messages to inspire private landowners to remove and replace buckthorn with native plants. Environmental Communications Specialist Brett Peto and Matt Ueltzen, manager of restoration ecology, share best practices and tried-and-true resources to help the public. 35-minute presentation with 10–15 minutes for Q&A.