Environmental Almanac

The work of conservation can be inspiring and uplifting, but not so much when schemes to put profits ahead of the public good threaten local and global ecosystems

You’ve probably had about enough of winter by now. But other mammals have to find ways of coping with winter as well - from hibernation to energy storage to huddling together for warmth and to save energy.

Members of the Illinois Grand PrairieMaster Naturalists help catalogue the contents of a collection of more than 2300 individual species of insects - and it’s critical that their identity is confirmed before being used for scientific and educational purposes

"In 2014, I resolve to stay attuned to the local environment as I go about my business, and encourage others to cultivate their own appreciation for the wonders of the nearby natural world."

‘Tis the season to stand awkwardly among people you may not see often, maintaining a smile and racking your brain for things to talk about. My gifts to you, dear reader, are questions to prompt conversation at a holiday party, questions about wildlife and wildlife experiences

“PowerShift,” a gathering of more than 10,000 youth leaders from around the country, has the ambitious goal of building a movement to “fight fracking, divest from fossil fuels, build a clean energy future, and stop the climate crisis.”

There's good and bad news regarding wildlife in Illinois - the bad is that white-nose syndrome is killing bats by the millions; the good news really is just less bad: a fatal chronic wasting disease affecting deer, moose, and elk,is coming under control thanks to a strategy implemented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.