Wild Things 2025

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.

Reintroduction is a tool used in conservation biology to establish a new population of previously extirpated species. It is often necessary when habitat fragmentation prevents natural reestablishment. In freshwater turtle species, reintroduction is becoming more common, but questions about best practices remain due to their longevity. Here, we discuss results and lessons learned 4 years into an experimental reintroduced population of the state-endangered Blanding’s Turtles and explore adaptive management strategies to ensure this population reaches self-sustainability.

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.

Photo documentation and voice recordings were used to document flower visiting insects at 12 nature preserves in west-central Illinois from 2023-2024. Bipartite network graphs were created to determine connections between groups of insects and flowers visited. While bees made up the majority of visitations (40%) other taxa including beetles, flies and even true bugs also made up a large percentage of the total visitations. By analyzing all of the pollinator groups together it may be possible to determine the importance of bee versus non-bee insects on flower reproduction and maintaining vegetative communities.

As human influence has spread further into natural areas, some species have adapted their behaviors so they can live in proximity to humans. The coyote’s notorious behavioral flexibility has allowed the species to thrive in both natural and highly urbanized settings. To determine how environmental pressures from urbanization may influence coyote behavior, we examined coyote exploration tendencies by conducting novel object tests throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. In this session, learn how something as seemingly simple as a garden gnome can elicit a variety of responses from one of the region’s top mammalian predators.

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.