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The Wild Things Conference Returns Saturday, March 1, 2025 - SOLD OUT

We’re thrilled to welcome you again to learn and share your expertise with our community. We’ve put together an exciting lineup of workshops and sessions from regional and national experts, plus meet & greets, video content, exhibitors, and sponsors. With over 140 presentations and discussion panels to choose from, the in-person program engages a diverse range of topics, research, and skills, and plenty of opportunities to meet with friends, old and new.

Thank you as well to our sponsors, scholarship supporters, and exhibitors who are all helping to make this another tremendously successful Wild Things.

Tickets for Wild Things 2025 are sold out. For additional information on the 2025 conference, visit wildthingscommunity.org.

**PLEASE NOTE: Some details are subject to change.**

NOTICE: Please be advised that photos and videos will be taken during Wild Things 2025. By attending, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. Your attendance on this event constitutes your agreement to the use of any resulting media by Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves for promotional, marketing, or any other purpose in perpetuity, without further approval or any compensation. 
Type: Stewardship & Ecology clear filter
Saturday, March 1
 

10:15am CST

Buffalo Grove Prairie: 35 years of TLC for a Small Remnant in Suburbia
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CST
Room 41
A prairie rescue in 1989 saved Buffalo Grove Prairie and led to formation of the Buffalo Grove Prairie Guardians. 35 years later, we are still a close knit community of stewards trying to maintain the extraordinary diversity of the prairie. We'll discuss the challenges we face stewarding such a high-quality but small remnant. These include prescribed fire under transmission lines, long-term battles with woody and herbaceous invasive vegetation, altered hydrology, species loss, and collaboration between volunteer stewards, land owners and contractors. This talk will include trends based on 20 years of transect data and anecdotal evidence from our long term experience on the prairie.
Presenters
JW

Jeff Weiss

Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team
DB

David Bart

Ecologist, Stantec
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CST
Room 41
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

10:15am CST

Nine Stories - that taught me and others
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CST
Room 27
Some are seemingly profound, some dramatic, some funny. From 40 years as a volunteer, then staff: with Illinois Nature Preserves, Nature Conservancy, Audubon, and finally as a volunteer again – gloriously so. These stories, focusing on great work by many, include lessons, insights, or even inspiration - or so I'm told. This is a “call and response“ session. There will be opportunitities for feedback. Then we’ll go on the next story and enjoy as many (and as much good exchange of ideas) as we can. The focus is on saving biodiversity, with fire, stewardship, advocacy, and by gosh and by golly.
Presenters
avatar for Stephen Packard

Stephen Packard

Site Steward, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CST
Room 27
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

10:15am CST

The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis explained: ecosystem dynamics with applied science for progress in the practice of ecological restoration.
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CST
Room 46
The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis proposes that randomly determined disturbance events of medium frequency and intensity often result in maximum biodiversity on the landscape scale. Biodiversity and ecosystem stability can be influenced by ecological trajectories such as succession and retrogression, where ecological disturbances shape plant community composition and structure, as well as wildlife habitat.  In northern Illinois, case studies can be observed at well-developed restoration projects such as The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands where bison have been introduced as a keystone species. By utilizing applied science based on principles of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, a better understanding of effective stewardship protocols using adaptive management can be developed and adopted across the region.
Presenters
avatar for Will Overbeck

Will Overbeck

Environmental Scientist, Hey and Associates, Inc.
Mr. Overbeck has over 20 years of experience with ecology projects within the Chicago region. He has been trained as a specialist in plant identification with applications in ecological restoration, planting plan design, seed collection, plant propagation, plant installation, ecological... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CST
Room 46
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

11:15am CST

Cemetery Prairies: A Matter of Life and Death
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Rooms 24, 25
Over 20 pioneer prairie cemeteries are now Nature Preserves, but all are small. Larger preserves would theoretically support more species, be more stable, and be less likely to lose species over time. But the small remnant prairies are also valuable, especially since there are so few remaining prairies of any size. In this visual presentation, we will visit several pioneer cemeteries and consider their value, their problems, and some ways volunteers can contribute to their preservation.
Presenters
avatar for Jack Shouba

Jack Shouba

Board of Directors member, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves
Educator, botanist, nature photographer, public speaker.Talk to me about any of the above, and tell me why you are at the conference.
Cemetery Prairies handout pdf
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Rooms 24, 25
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

11:15am CST

Just Add Water – Restoring Shallow Wetlands for Wildlife
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Rooms 55, 57
Wetland scrapes are shallow depressions, typically less than three feet deep, that hold water seasonally but stay damp for most of the year. They offer diverse habitats for waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds, reptiles, and amphibians. When these scrapes fill in with silt from the surrounding watershed and invasive plants, they must be restored.

Pingree Grove Forest Preserve includes one of the largest wetland complexes owned by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. Over time, much of the open water was lost due to the dense growth of invasive species like Narrowleaf Cattail, Reed Canary Grass, and Common Reed. A “wetland scrape” was performed by ILM in 2023 to return an interspersion of open water and emergent vegetation vital for wetland wildlife.
Presenters
LW
EM
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Rooms 55, 57
  Stewardship & Ecology, Technical

11:15am CST

Let it Burn!: The History and Practice of Prescribed Burning
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Room 26
Prescribed fire is an important tool that is often used, and in most cases necessary, to maintain and improve the diversity and health of fire-dependent natural communities. This talk delves into the history of wildfires in the United States, what we have learned from them, and how their impacts have influenced modern day thinking and ecologists’ application of prescribed fire. You will also hear about the benefits of prescription burns, risks, variations in fire outcomes, planning, implementation, and recommended training.
Presenters
MH
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Room 26
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

11:15am CST

Restoring oak ecosystems: goals and techniques
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
Fire-dependent oak woodlands and savannas were Illinois' most common wooded ecosystems, yet today are globally imperiled. Restoring them is a conservation priority, but few or no very high-quality examples that could guide restoration exist. Thus, we are still in the early stages of understanding models and goals - and how to reach them. This talk examines topics such as fire frequency, ecosystem structure, and herb layer composition through a series of comparative on-the-ground studies, historical analyses, and observations of one of the region's longest-running oak ecosystem restorations in 300 acres of Somme Woods and Prairie Grove.
Presenters
avatar for Christos Economou

Christos Economou

Volunteer, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, North Branch Restoration Project
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

11:15am CST

Saving Aquatic Species: “Mussel Matters” Film Screening and Conservation Efforts at the Urban Stream Research Center
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Room 50
The session includes a screening of the original short film “Mussel Matters: Saving Critical Species in DuPage County”, created in partnership between North Central College, The Conservation Foundation, and Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The film highlights local efforts to conserve the freshwater mussel population in Illinois. After the film, staff from the Urban Stream Research Center will share more insight into their work with freshwater mussels as well as other regional aquatic species in need of conservation.
Presenters
JM
LR

Lea Rodbarry

Communications Specialist, The Conservation Foundation
AO
Saturday March 1, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Room 50
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

12:30pm CST

Conserving and restoring the threatened butternut tree (Juglans cinerea, aka white walnut)
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 48
Butternut (Juglans cinerea, aka white walnut) is a threatened tree in the walnut genus which was once ecologically and economically important, and has deep cultural significance. It has been suffering severe decline since the 1960s due to a fungal pathogen. Our presentation will discuss the state of butternut health in the region, ongoing research by The Morton Arboretum to better understand its ecology and disease resistance, and how a little stewardship may go a long way to promote conservation and recovery. We will share our observations in local preserves, including of healthy and dying mature trees as well as seedlings in Chicago region preserves. We look forward to discussion and ideas.
Presenters
EL

Emma Leavens

The Morton Arboretum
GS
avatar for Sean Hoban

Sean Hoban

Senior scientist in tree conservation biology, The Morton arboretum
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 48
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

12:30pm CST

Restoring ecologically healthy shorelines at Indian Ridge Marsh
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 43
Indian Ridge Marsh (IRM) has been extremely degraded by hydrologic alteration and commercial and industrial dumping of dredged materials, slag, construction debris, and industrial waste material. Today, IRM North consists of shallow pools bounded by relatively steep shorelines, a result of the bulldozing of waste materials into the marsh. Working with the Chicago Park District, The Wetlands Initiative has restored over 3,500 linear feet of IRM North’s shoreline, reestablishing healthy gradual transition zones from upland prairie habitat down to the marsh. These new shoreline habitats are now able to support native wetland vegetation and wetland-dependent wildlife.
Presenters
avatar for Katie Kucera

Katie Kucera

Ecologist, The Wetlands Initiative
HK

Harry Kuttner

Calumet Program Manager, The Wetlands Initiative
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 43
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

12:30pm CST

Roll call! Post-invasive cattail management implications for seeding of native species and habitat for waterbirds
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 50
Hybrid invasive cattail (Typha × glauca) establishes dense monocultures throughout eutrophic Great Lakes wetlands. Large-scale restoration research at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge [Saginaw County, MI] is currently assessing repeat harvesting treatments and cattail-derived-biochar application to reduce Typha dominance and address nutrient loading. Loyola University Chicago graduate researchers are exploring reintroduction of dominant wetland plants (hardstem bulrush & tussock sedge) post-cattail management in a greenhouse experiment. A second graduate study is investigating the impact of cattail management on waterbird occupancy, utilizing machine-learning technology and wildlife recorders. Results will inform land managers on potential solutions to address cattail monocultures to improve biodiversity.
Presenters
avatar for Madeline 'Madi' Palmquist

Madeline 'Madi' Palmquist

Loyola University
avatar for MacKenzie Michaels

MacKenzie Michaels

Graduate Research Assistant, Loyola University Chicago
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 50
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

12:30pm CST

Snake Road: Reshaping Attitudes Towards Snakes Through Landscape Management
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 27
Snake Road in the Shawnee National Forest, once a site of snake persecution, has transformed into a conservation area dedicated to protecting reptiles. This talk explores how landscape management policies have shifted public perceptions of snakes. Using surveys of visitors and residents, interviews with educators and policymakers, and archival research, the study examines whether direct encounters with snakes foster greater tolerance and appreciation. Findings indicate increased positive attitudes influenced by social and cultural factors, though high visitor traffic raises sustainability concerns. The presentation discusses how intentional landscape management can promote biodiversity and reshape attitudes toward uncharismatic species, offering insights for future conservation efforts.
Presenters
JB
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 27
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

12:30pm CST

The Chiwuakee Prairie - Illinois Beach Lake Plain Collaborative
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 47
The Chiwaukee Prairie-Illinois Beach Lake Plain is a stretch of connected natural areas on the western shore of Lake Michigan which spans across the Wisconsin-Illinois Border. The Lake Plain includes Kenosha Dunes, Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, Spring Bluff Forest Preserve, Illinois Beach State Park, Hosah Park, and Waukegan Dunes and serves as the highest quality dune and swale ecosystem in the Chicago Region. The Lake Plain Collaborative, formally established in 2010 through MOU, is a concerted effort between state and local agencies, universities, non-profits and other organizations and individuals seeking to manage and protect the Lake Plain as one ecological unit. The Lake Plain Collaborative is now a widely recognized  alliance which cooperatively secures grant funding and fosters coordinated management and conservation efforts across the state line.
Presenters
avatar for Belynda Alberte

Belynda Alberte

Lake Plain Coordinator, Chiwaukee Prairie-Illinois Beach Lake Plain Collaborative / Lake County Forest Preserves
I am the Coordinator of the Chiwaukee-Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain Collaborative. I assist the Collaborative with their organizational needs, seeking funding sources for habitat management and conservation strategies, and overall project management in the Lake Plain. I also assist... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm CST
Room 47
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

1:15pm CST

Assessing Oak Woodland Ecological Integrity and Restorability
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 26
High quality oak woodlands and oak woodland restoration opportunities are precious and rare, but also often unrecognized and misunderstood. We need to appreciate that the structure and composition of the oak woodland herbaceous flora is at least co-equal in importance to that of the trees. We need to predictively understand which fire and other management prescriptions destabilize or limit oak woodlands versus stabilize or promote them. We need to take a long view of restoration and stewardship. I will discuss shared characteristics among high quality oak woodland remnants, promising restoration projects, and how they have informed the development of a Wisconsin oak woodland assessment tool with respect to the foregoing claims. This session should help conservationists evaluate opportunities for and results from oak woodland protection and restoration in the Midwest and motivate lines of inquiry to further our understanding.
Presenters
DC

Dan Carter

Ecologist, The Prairie Enthusiasts
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 26
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

1:15pm CST

Bats: Why we need to conserve them and how you can help
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Rooms 24, 25
This presentation will introduce the audience to the bats of Illinois, and their ecology and ecosystem services, and provide tips for aiding in bat conservation, including a detailed look at the latest innovations in artificial roosts for bats.
Presenters
JB
JO

Joy O'Keefe

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Rooms 24, 25
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

1:15pm CST

Conservation through time, in time?: Comments on 40 years observing and managing natural lands
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 48
From the giddy 80’s to the gloomy 00’s and on to the hopeful 20’s, I volunteered and worked from the Central Illinois Sands and Revis Hill Prairie to Chiwaukee Prairie & the Illinois Dunes to the Braidwood Sands and Dolomite Valleys.  And now on to the 4-Rivers Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) which ranges from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie through Des Plaines Conservation Area to Goose Lake Prairie through the Braidwood Sands and upriver to the Kankakee River State Park with around 30,000 of acres of protected land holding remnant prairie, savanna, wetland, creek, cliff and river on black, dolomite, sand and clay soils of Illinois’ Grand Prairie. A place so rich in natural diversity, the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan recommends focusing conservation dollars and efforts there.  
Presenters
FC
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 48
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

1:15pm CST

Death By A Thousand Cuts - Encroachment!
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Rooms 55, 57
Preserving public land does not just include defending it from invasive species, but also safeguarding it from hostile takeover by a more insidious foe: people. Believe it or not, the Forest Preserves of Cook County has hundreds of acres of land that is functionally disposed or illegally encroached upon, whether unknowingly or with intention, by hundreds of homeowners, private businesses, municipalities, and even other government agencies. The encroachment and non-mission related use of these lands runs the gamut. Take a dive into how these encroachments occur and hear how some of the more egregious offenders justify effectively taking over Preserve property for their personal use. Moreover, learn about the legal repercussions of encroachment on public lands, and how the Forest Preserves is battling this scourge and walking the political tightrope to resolve some of these impacts.
Presenters
avatar for John McCabe

John McCabe

Director Department of Resource Management, Forest Preserves of Cook County
I have worked for the Forest Preserves of Cook County since 1990 and am currently in the role of Director of our department of Resource Management.  The day-to-day duties of this position is overseeing our Resource Crews, Project Management, Conservation Corps, Fisheries, Wildlife... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Rooms 55, 57
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

1:15pm CST

Environmental DNA: what land stewards want to know about this new technique
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 49
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been used in aquatic systems since the mid-1980s. New developments mean that scientists are using eDNA in terrestrial and aquatic environments for monitoring, locating rare species, detecting invasive species, researching species relationships, and exploring species diversity. This talk will explore how the Field Museum is exploring eDNA applications in the Chicago Region and highlight some promising future applications. While also identifying the challenges of over-relying on any new methodology.
Presenters
avatar for Aster Hasle

Aster Hasle

Lead Conservation Ecologist, Field Museum
Aster Hasle is a Lead Conservation Ecologist with the Field Museum's Keller Science Action Center. Aster brings their ecology and Geographic Information Systems background to the Action Center's Chicago Region Conservation Programs. Recent projects include a monarch community science... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 49
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

1:15pm CST

Plants of Concern: Community Science Rare Plant Monitoring in Action
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 44
We provide an update on three Plants of Concern projects. First, we present highlights from our first year of monitoring in northwestern Illinois, including new and rediscovered historic occurrences of state-listed plants as well as the importance of the involvement of key partners and volunteers. Second, we discuss lessons learned from our ongoing Dune Willow (Salix cordata) recovery project at Illinois Beach State Park. Lastly, we share highlights from our fourth year in southern Illinois.
Presenters
CD
GK

Gretel Kiefer

Manager, Plants of Concern, Chicago Botanic Garden
GF

Grant Fessler

Coordinator - Northwestern Illinois Region, Chicago Botanic Garden - Plants of Concern
Saturday March 1, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CST
Room 44
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

2:15pm CST

Eco-restoration in Chicagoland and Southern India: A personal journey
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Rooms 54, 56, 58
As a person born and brought up in Southern India, I had scant knowledge of its ecology or native flora when I lived there. However, having immigrated to Chicagoland twenty years ago, I have been involved as a volunteer in restoration of sites along the Northbranch of the Chicago River, especially the Somme preserves for over a decade. In the process I have come to recognize many local native species and have developed an understanding for the ecology and native floral community of prairies, savannas, woodlands and their ecotones, thanks to wonderful mentors and fellow volunteers. This has in turn made me wonder about the ecology of Southern India where I spent my formative years, its current state of degradation and whether there is any ecological restoration work that is taking place and if so how it is being conducted. Accordingly, I have been making trips to various places in Southern India the last few years to understand the local ecosystems, the native flora and the ecological restoration that is being undertaken. In this talk I am planning to present from my notes on the ecological restoration in different ecosystems in Southern India that will be of interest to restoration enthusiasts of Chicago and point out the interesting parallels and contrasts in restoration between temperate and tropical natural areas of the globe.
Presenters
SR

Sai Ramakrishna

Zone Steward, North Branch Restoration Project
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Rooms 54, 56, 58
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

2:15pm CST

Nature's New Ally: Can AI (Artificial Intelligence) Fix What We Broke?
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 26
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is insinuating itself into our daily lives. We all use AI, whether one realizes it or not. But can it play a beneficial role in conservation? We will address this topic by examining the pros and cons, strengths and dangers of Artificial Intelligence's potential. A case study will be presented that tests the ability of AI to help save a population of an endangered fish in northern Illinois that is cutoff from the rest of the species. An open discussion will conclude the session where the audience can brainstorm ideas or voice their feelings ranging from optimistic potential to dreaded misgivings about this emotionally charged topic with which society is wrestling.
Presenters
avatar for Evan Barker
avatar for Philip Willink

Philip Willink

Illinois Natural History Survey
avatar for Robb Telfer

Robb Telfer

Program Director, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 26
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

2:15pm CST

Propagation of Hemi-parasitic Native Plants
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 28
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.
Presenters
avatar for Luke Dahlberg

Luke Dahlberg

Conservation Seed Program Manager, Citizens for Conservation
I have roughly twenty years of native plant growing experience and studying our local ecosystems. I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others while continuing to learn more. If you want to grow native plants... results may vary! Be patient and do not give up! Let's have a conversation... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 28
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

2:15pm CST

Quit Herbiciding Thistles (in Natural Area Restorations)
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
Julianne Mason, Ecological Management Supervisor for the Forest Preserve District of Will County, will recount the differing trajectories of two thistle-infested prairie restorations, where opposite thistle-management strategies were used. In conjunction with the results of a soil herbicide residual experiment, she makes the case that thistles in natural areas are a symptom of a problem – usually, a lack of enough native perennials – and why applying herbicide to kill thistles may be counterproductive. Juli has been professionally doing prairie and wetland restorations for the past 25 years, and like many of you, her previous self from >5 years ago would have been skeptical of this presentation’s contents and take-home message. However, it’s humbling and exciting at the same time to be reminded of the complexity of our natural systems, and to continue to learn and grow as restoration practitioners and natural resource managers.
Presenters
JM

Julianne Mason

Will County Forest Preserve District
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
  Stewardship & Ecology, Technical

2:15pm CST

Stewardship Decisions: Balancing Risks & Rewards
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 48
The southwest section of Cook County contains higher quality remnants of both lake plain and ground moraine prairies and savannas. Constrained often by time and financial resources, stewardship management decisions may result in biodiversity rewards or additional invasive risks. We will review how ecological ideas assist in guiding past decisions and sometimes the unexpected outcomes in restoring these areas. We will examine the "success" of these decisions on publicly owned (non-FPD) prairie preserves in Bridgeview, Orland Park, Hodgkins, Oak Lawn and Chicago Ridge. Q&A will follow with stewards.
Presenters
avatar for Louis Mule

Louis Mule

Ecologist, Tallgrass Associates
Prairies in southwest Cook CountyBlazingstars (Liatris sp.)Restoration and Management Natural Areas
WT 2025 Stew Risks & Rewards Abstract (Mule) pdf
WT25 STEW DECISIONS MULE Posted pdf
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 48
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

2:15pm CST

Working with Your Local Utility
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 41
ComEd is an electric transmission and distribution company in Northern IL with approximately 127,000 acres across which Vegetation Management and Environmental Service Department make land management decisions independent of or in partnership with stakeholders. An estimated total of 15,000 acres is believed to be restorable or remnant greenspace with potential for preservation or restoration. To prevent outages, maintain safety, and be stewards of the environment, ComEd intends to maintain its Rights of Way free of incompatible woody species and seeks partnerships to restore them to provide safety, reliability, and be a good neighbor and steward. Sr. Program Manager Kelvin Limbrick will share ComEd’s process, progress, and partnerships across Northern Illinois.
Presenters
avatar for Kelvin Limbrick

Kelvin Limbrick

Sr. Program Manager, ComEd
Saturday March 1, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CST
Room 41
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

3:15pm CST

A Decision Procedure to Minimize Impacts from Prescribed Fire on Selected Sensitive Wildlife Species
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 27
Prescribed fire managers often hesitate to burn areas containing rare wildlife (E&T, SGCN) due to concerns about mortality. These hesitations can lead to missed opportunities, lack of prescribed fire, and frustration. We developed communication procedures using published literature and weather data sets to support burn-day decisions that provide confidence in minimizing impacts. We hope to provide future empirical data to further support such decisions at a local level. Presenters will share feedback from burn crews.
Presenters
avatar for Tom Velat

Tom Velat

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
avatar for Nick Fuller

Nick Fuller

Natural Resource Project Coordinator, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Natural Areas ManagementNatural Areas HabitatNatural Areas Budgeting
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 27
  Stewardship & Ecology, Technical

3:15pm CST

A nine-year experiment testing the ability of wood betony to reduce the dominance of tall prairie grasses and tall goldenrod.
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 28
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.


Presenters
avatar for Thomas Simpson

Thomas Simpson

McHenry County Conservation District
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 28
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

3:15pm CST

Brush pile burn scar recovery trajectories and techniques for speeding recovery
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
To restore oak savannas, ecosystem stewards and managers cut invasive brush and thin trees, creating woody debris brush piles that are subsequently burned. With approximately 5,000 brush piles built and burned annually in the Chicago region, the ecological restoration community is concerned about the effects of burn scars on regional biodiversity and interested in developing strategies for minimizing these impacts. In response, we established a series of studies to 1) characterize short- and long-term effects of brush pile burns on plant and soil biodiversity; 2) identify the management choices that minimize or maximize these effects; and 3) evaluate post-burn strategies for mitigating brush pile burning effects on biodiversity. In this session, we will discuss current findings from a large-scale survey, a chronosequence study, and a restoration treatment experiment.
Presenters
EL

Emma Leavens

The Morton Arboretum
avatar for Meghan Midgley

Meghan Midgley

Soil Ecologist, Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum
As the Soil Ecologist at The Morton Arboretum, Meghan Midgley studies plant-soil interactions in a changing world. Specifically, she aims to understand how interactions among plants, microbes, and soil mediate ecosystem-specific responses to environmental changes. Her research encompasses... Read More →
TD

Tony Del Vallé

Research Coordinator, The Morton Arboretum
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
  Stewardship & Ecology, Technical

3:15pm CST

Following Nature's Calendar: A Long-term Phenology Project to Monitor Seasonal Changes and Inform Management Practices
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 29
Our phenology study at LREC, ongoing since 2014, focuses on the timing of flower bloom in our prairies and woodlands. This project has not only built a useful, long-term data set for future research and analysis, but also helps us gain a better understanding of the plant communities we manage and gives us an opportunity to engage our community in an interesting and constructive way.
Presenters
avatar for Adam Rembert

Adam Rembert

Missouri Botanical Garden
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 29
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

3:15pm CST

Oak woodland restoration at Somme Woods: summer scything and seeds work make all the difference
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 44
History and background of Somme Woods ecological restoration and summary of tasks undertaken by volunteers, staff, conservation corps and contractors, all partnering to advance biodiversity conservation of oak woodland, savanna, sedge meadow, ephemeral brooks and pools

Special emphasis in this presentation: a deep dive into the guiding principles and nitty-gritty of the indispensable summer stewardship essentials, scything and seeds work: why these constitute the Somme secret sauce to successful oak woodland biodiversity conservation

30 min. presentation followed by 20 min. Q&A and discussion
Presenters
avatar for Eriko Kojima

Eriko Kojima

Stewardship volunteer leader, I serve as a stewardship volunteer at Cook County FPD, North Branch Restoration Project, Somme Preserves. I volunteer at a variety of Illinois Nature Preserves and serve on the Board of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves
Life is beautiful and each day is a precious gift I accept with gratitude. I strive to live it with humility, a sense of humor and detachment. Towards all who cross my path I offer love, kindness and positivity. I dedicate each day to serve the earth and its creatures. Let's do it... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 44
  Stewardship & Ecology, Technical

3:15pm CST

Prairies in the city? Conservation, Community Engagement and Stewardship Working Together for People and Nature
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 45
This panel discussion will provide the opportunity for the panelists to describe how to effectively collaborate across disciplines and responsibilities to effectively attend to the health of the community and the health of prairies that are located in the city of Markham, Il., known as the Prairie Capital of the Prairie State
Managing the five plus prairies that comprise 13% of the land mass requires a perspective that is specific, engaging, intentional, flexible, and adaptable with boundaries. Dynamics to be consider and how they have been addressed will be shared in a manner that the attendees will experience the practicality of "thinking outside of the box" with the goal of positively impacting people and nature. People in the community and colleagues are challenged and answer the question "Why?" when determining ways of operation at this unique preserve where people and prairie are neighbors. Attendees will come away with an understanding that at this preserve, prairies in a city, prairie management happens. a youth intern program happens. Stewardship happens. Collaboratively! It's not just theory. It's our practice.
Presenters
avatar for Dr. Debra Williams

Dr. Debra Williams

Community Outreach Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy/IBP
KG

Karl Gnaedinger

The Nature Conservancy
ST
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 45
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

3:15pm CST

Preserving a Legacy: Conservation in Southern Illinois
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 42
Have you ever been to Southern Illinois? Did you know there are massive sandstone bluffs, wetlands, sloughs, caves, limestone glades, barrens and cliffs that still exist in Illinois today? Enjoy a virtual tour of the amazing and unique landscapes that make Southern Illinois such a special place. You will learn about the history of Southern Illinois, the natural divisions and community types that converge there, and you'll hear about some of the local management needs and conservation challenges groups like The Nature Conservancy are involved with.
Presenters
avatar for Caleb Grantham

Caleb Grantham

Community Engagement & Conservation Specialist, The Nature Conservancy
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 42
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

3:15pm CST

Red Gate Woods: The Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Largest Ever Ecological Restoration Project
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 26
Learn about the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s ongoing large-scale restoration project at Red Gate Woods in the Palos Preserves. A project overview will be provided, including the project timeline, goals and operations. Progress, challenges, and opportunities for the project will be discussed. We will talk about site history, touching on geological processes and past land use. We will also get a chance to learn about the site’s herbaceous layer recovery, native shrub layer, tree canopy composition and ecosystem services provided by the restoration project. Detailed maps will be included, and the use of geographic information systems to organize contractor data and workflow will be discussed.
Presenters
avatar for Troy Showerman

Troy Showerman

Resource Project Manager, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Troy has more than 19 years of professional experience in ecological and habitat restoration, project management, and environmental consulting. As an ecological contractor, he has worked with private landowners, corporations and businesses, park districts, and forest preserve districts... Read More →
avatar for Sam Pirruccello

Sam Pirruccello

Resource Specialist, Forest Preserves of Cook County
I am an ecological restoration and forestry professional with 11 years of experience working with local government, private contractors and conservation corps programs in northeastern Illinois. I help manage and oversee contracted land management work at the Forest Preserves of Cook... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 26
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

3:15pm CST

The Chicago Region - A Critical Migratory Bird Corridor: Habitat Management Needs
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 46
1/4th of North America’s nocturnal migrating birds move north through the CW Region in the spring; then go back south in the fall in even larger numbers (including birds born that summer). This twice a year transect makes the CW a critical corridor! And the numbers don’t lie: Many species are experiencing significant population declines! Can CW’s landscape, both managed natural lands and human spaces, be made safer and more ‘user-friendly’ for stopover migrants and breeding species alike? The answer – an emphatic yes! Doable actions to lower the Region’s human source mortality risks, plus adjustments to land management practices – will do that, even amidst the growing impact of climate change.
Presenters
avatar for Eric Secker

Eric Secker

Vice President, Bird Conservation Network
BF

BOB FISHER

Bird Conservation Network
Saturday March 1, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm CST
Room 46
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

4:15pm CST

24 years of sand hill prairie restoration results in north central Illinois
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Rooms 59, 60
A summary of sand loving prairie restoration methods and techniques used on a sand hill prairie remnant in northwest Bureau County, IL.
Presenters
JA

James Alwill

Owner, Prairie Earth Nursery
Prairie seed and plant salesNorth central IL ecotypeLinear Pollinator patch installed/mngmntRoadside prairie managementSpot herbicide treatment of invasives
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Rooms 59, 60
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

4:15pm CST

Lessons in Using Rope Dodder to Control Tall/Canada Goldenrod and Sawtooth Sunflower
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 45
Rope Dodder (Cuscuta glomerata) is a unique native vine that is completely parasitic and usually targets members of the Aster/Composite Family as a host species, especially aggressive, rhizomatous species such as Tall and Canada Goldenrods and Sawtooth Sunflower. We will look at the life cycle and growth and development of Rope Dodder and examine takeaways from the anecdotal approaches of using this native parasitic species as a biological control for aggressive goldenrods and Sawtooth Sunflower at several sites in the Barrington area over a five-year period.
Presenters
avatar for Luke Dahlberg

Luke Dahlberg

Conservation Seed Program Manager, Citizens for Conservation
I have roughly twenty years of native plant growing experience and studying our local ecosystems. I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others while continuing to learn more. If you want to grow native plants... results may vary! Be patient and do not give up! Let's have a conversation... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 45
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

4:15pm CST

Mushrooms of Illinois
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
Dr. Miller will discuss the large variety of fungi that occur throughout Illinois.  The major groups of macrofungi will be presented including several edible and poisonous mushrooms.
Presenters
avatar for Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller

Mycologist - Principle Senior Scientist, Illinois Natural History Survey
Dr. Andrew Miller is a mycologist and serves as the Director of the Herbarium at the Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A native of Illinois, Andy began his formal education in mycology (the study of fungi) under the tutelage of Dr. Andrew... Read More →
Mushrooming for Beginners handout smaller with logo pdf
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Rooms 30, 31
  Stewardship & Ecology, General

4:15pm CST

Recovering and establishing prairie and savanna with frequent fire and keystone species
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 46
The results of 48 years of experience will be presented regarding the recovery of degraded remnants of prairie and oak savanna, and restoration by inter-seeding into old fields, pastures, and Conservation Reserve Program cool-season grass fields in southern WI. The effects of frequent fire, keystone allelopathic and semi-parasitic plants, and specialist insects will be presented.
Presenters
RH
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 46
  Stewardship & Ecology, Technical

4:15pm CST

Rethinking Lawns: lawn alternative plantings in natural areas and at home
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Rooms 24, 25
Turfgrass lawns are the number one irrigated crop in North America. Not all lawns are residential, some occur within or alongside parks or natural areas. In many of these spaces, turf is incidental, not required. Turning these lawn spaces into full restorations is often not feasible, but there are options for a “middle ground” – a planting that is short, like lawn, but that delivers ecosystem services over and above those provided by turfgrass. This session will discuss possibilities for lawn alternatives at home, as well as in parks and preserves where lawn alternatives can serve as a 'bridge' between highly developed areas and natural areas. The session will be about 35 minutes of presentations, with 15 minutes for questions and discussion.
Presenters
RB

Rebecca Barak

Chicago Botanic Garden
avatar for Lauren Umek

Lauren Umek

Chicago Park District
LA
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Rooms 24, 25
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

4:15pm CST

Seeding the future – developing the seed amplification program at the Forest Preserves of Cook County
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 43
Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) has a mandate to restore 30,000 acres to the highest quality possible. Restoring land that has suffered anthropogenic degradation and countless other pressures from the globalizing world requires comprehensive land management, going beyond invasive species removal to ensure the reestablishment of native plant communities. To achieve this ambitious goal, FPCC and Chicago Botanic Garden have joined forces to lay the foundations of a native seed amplification program that will meet the FPCC’s native seed needs now and into the future. Come learn about how these two institutions are working together on this initiative and the progress made so far.  
Presenters
IR

Iza Redlinski

Forest Preserves of Cook County
MM
EM
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 43
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

4:15pm CST

Selecting Trees for Removal in Oak Savanna and Woodland Restorations
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 27
Tree thinning is one of the most important steps in successful oak savanna and woodland restorations. Proper tree thinning can help preserve and increase site-wide biodiversity, facilitate oak regeneration, improve the health of existing oaks, carry fire more effectively, and complement the re-introduction of savanna and woodland plant communities. As stewards of natural areas, we are tasked with making decisions on what trees stay and what trees will be removed. This presentation aims to break down some of the key considerations behind this process, and how they can help us meet our restoration goals.
Presenters
BD

Ben Davies

Natural Areas Technician, Boone County Conservation District
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 27
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro

4:15pm CST

The Dark Side of Habitat Restoration
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 26
Natural darkness is fundamental to ecological health. Often, we focus only on the ecology that we can see and experience in the day. But daytime is only half the picture. Nocturnal flora and fauna are intricately connected with diurnal life in our preserves. As light pollution spreads, we must consider the importance of preserving dark skies for the nocturnal environment. In this presentation, we will look at the effects of light pollution in our natural areas and discuss solutions for restoring natural darkness. Whether you’re a resource professional, a volunteer steward, or a concerned tree-hugger, this session is for you!
Presenters
VB
Saturday March 1, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm CST
Room 26
  Stewardship & Ecology, Intro
 
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