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Illinois Conservation Projects

	RESTORING FOREST BIRD HABITAT IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Illinois has the lowest nest success rate for forest birds in North America. One reason is habitat fragmentation, according to Tom Palmer, a forester at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. To reverse this trend, the Crab Orchard Refuge developed a five-year plan to restore sizable blocks of forest habitat. In addition to serving the needs of songbird species, the forest restoration also provided high-quality habitat for all resident wildlife. The restoration effort planted hardwood trees in open areas, consolidated smaller forest tracts, and established corridors to connect forested areas. Wildlife Forever assisted with the planting of 31,400 hardwood seedlings on 64 acres of the refuge.
	STOCKING AND PROTECTING FISH AT SHABBONA LAKE One of Illinois’ most popular lakes will continue to be a favorite with anglers, thanks to Wildlife Forever. Home of the current Illinois state record muskie, 320-acre Shabbona Lake is located within Shabbona Lake State Park, which receives over 400,000 visitors per year, making it one of the most heavily fished lakes, per acre, in the state of Illinois. In response to this fishing pressure, Wildlife Forever and several local fishing clubs began a muskie and walleye restocking project, which was coordinated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The stocked muskies were at least 10 inches long and the walleyes were at least 8 inches long, ensuring a greater chance of survival. In addition, a spillway barrier was constructed, protecting large fish from going into the creek below the lake during high water.
	BRINGING THE PRAIRIE BACK TO THE PRAIRIE STATE Illinois is known as the "Prairie State", and at one time, over 60 percent of the state was covered with prairie. Of those 22 million acres, less than on tenth of one percent remains. With help from Wildlife Forever, 40 acres of tallgrass prairie have been restored in Jasper County, Illinois. The prairie restoration has provided critical habitat for many grassland wildlife species, including 22 state-listed Species of Concern such as the prairie chicken, upland sandpiper, short-eared owl, northern harrier, and Henslow's sparrow. In addition, a wetland was constructed to provide habitat for man species of shorebirds and waterfowl. The project is managed as an integral part of the nearby Prairie Ridge State Natural Area and was a cooperative effort between Wildlife Forever, the Illinois Audubon Society, and the Embarrass River Tourism Council.
	CONSTRUCTION WASTER BECOMES FISH HABITAT You were a part of an exciting project that both prevented waste heading to a landfill and improved fish habitat. This one-of-a-kind project in Champaign County, Illinois used discarded PVC pipe from the Illinois plumbers licensing examination that would normally have been thrown away. Volunteers used the pipe to assemble fish habitat structures that were added to Wolf Creek. Each structure prevented 50 pounds of material from being dumped into a landfill. The fish habitats were weighted down with sandbags. Once loaded into the water, scuba divers checked each structure to make sure it was properly placed on the bottom of the creek. Underwater divers, fish stocking and creel surveys are being used to help determine the degree of success in bringing back bass and crappie to Wolf Creek. Your support helped make this possible.