Illinois' Diverse Lands, Waters, and Wildlife
Adele Hodde, IDNR
Illinois spans nearly 400 miles from north to south, with species ranging from Ice Age relicts like the Iowa Pleistocene snail on rocky outcrops in the northwestern corner of the state, to bird-voiced treefrogs in 1,000-year old cypress swamps at the southern tip. In between live 12 million people, reaping the benefits of fertile soils, 26,000 miles of streams and rivers, and other natural treasures.
Bald eagles and river otters, once endangered, now thrive. Meanwhile, greater prairie-chickens—the signature bird of the tallgrass prairie—barely hang on in The Prairie State. Water quality and many fish populations have greatly improved, but a quarter of our freshwater mussels are extinct or extirpated. Game animals like white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and Canada geese are doing well, while bobwhite are not.
Working Together for Illinois' Wildlife
The Illinois wildlife action plan gives an overview of the major habitat types in the state: their current condition, challenges to their integrity, and actions to conserve them. Assessments of the 15 ecological regions of Illinois focus on key natural communities and species, places with special importance for conserving wildlife, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Grouped by habitat and issue, the Illinois wildlife action plan outlines seven "campaigns":
Scott Ballard, IDNR
- Farmland & Prairies
- Forests
- Wetlands
- Streams
- Invasive Species
- Land and Water Stewardship
- Green Cities
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
