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Natural History Survey

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  • white-tailed deer

    Deer protected from deadly disease by newly discovered genetic differences

    Feb 23, 2023 9:45 am

  • Illinois’ mild winter might benefit insect pests this spring

    Mar 9, 2023 2:45 pm

    Above normal air temperatures this winter kept Illinois average soil temperatures higher than usual. These mild conditions are favorable for insect pests that overwinter in Illinois, but many other factors will affect insect populations for the upcoming growing season, according to scientists at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI), a part of the University of Illinois.

  • Salt Fork in Champaign County

    Scientists take a historical look at fishes of Champaign County streams

    Mar 16, 2023 10:30 am

    Using data spanning 120 years, scientists in the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) have a unique view of long-term changes in stream fish populations and their habitats in Champaign County. The best news: several fish species that were last seen here in the 1960s have returned to the county, suggesting some streams are improving.

  • Earn course credit for attending INHS seminar series

    Mar 24, 2023 10:15 am

    Students may earn one credit for attending the INHS seminar series by registering for NRES 512/IB 546, starting Fall 2023 with instructor Dr. Suneeti K. Jog. Students will be required to attend INHS seminars (in-person or virtual) to get full credit, and it is a Pass/Fail course. Graduate faculty are asked to encourage their graduate students to sign up for this course.

  • Ph.D. candidate Sulagna Chakraborty, center, led a study of farmer awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases with U. of I. pathobiology professor Rebecca Smith, left, and Illinois Natural History Survey wildlife veterinary epidemiologist Nohra Mateus-Pinilla.

    Are Illinois farmers aware of the risk of tick-borne diseases?

    Apr 6, 2023 2:45 pm

    Tick-borne illnesses like ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are on the rise in Illinois, and outdoor workers like farmers are at higher risk than those who spend more time indoors. 

    blog post

    blog postsTick-borne illnesses like ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are on the rise in Illinois, and outdoor workers like farmers are at higher risk than those who spend more time indoors. 

    Tick-borne illnesses like ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are on the rise in Illinois, and outdoor workers like farmers are at higher risk than those who spend more time indoors. 

  • Pinto Bean

    Celebrated squirrel’s legacy lives on for visitors

    Apr 18, 2023 3:00 pm

    Pinto Bean, the beloved piebald squirrel that lived and died on the University of Illinois campus, is back. The squirrel’s taxidermied remains are now on display at the Forbes Natural History Building lobby, where visitors can see its rare gray and white coloration that attracted fans and followers at the university.

  • Jeff Hoover

    How does climate change affect global bird reproduction?

    May 1, 2023 2:15 pm

    A new study reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences assessed changes in the reproductive output of 104 bird species between 1970 and 2019. Illinois Natural History Survey avian ecologist Jeff Hoover, a co-author of the paper, discusses the findings and how climate change is altering bird ecology and health around the world. 

  • American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) egg (parthenogen) showing banding pattern indicative of potential viability.

    INHS researchers reveal “virgin birth” in a crocodile

    Jun 12, 2023 9:30 am

    In a recent study published in the journal Biology Letters, this is the first known instance of a crocodile virgin birth, but virgin births (parthenogenesis) have been recorded in fish, birds, lizards, and snakes. Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in some animals where viable offspring are produced from an otherwise unfertilized egg. Mark Davis, a conservation biologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) and co-author on the study helped examine the crocodile fetus' genomic makeup, ultimately discovering that the fetal genome resulted from reproduction without a male crocodile’s genetic contribution. 

  • Leellen Solter and Sam Heads

    Ancient katydid fossil reveals muscles, digestive tract, glands and a testicle

    Jun 26, 2023 1:45 pm

    Fifty million years ago in what is now northwestern Colorado, a katydid died, sank to the bottom of a lake and was quickly buried in fine sediments, where it remained until its compressed fossil was recovered in recent years. When researchers examined the fossil under a microscope, they saw that not only had many of the insect’s hard structures been preserved in the compressed shale, so had several internal organs and tissues, which are not normally fossilized. 

  • Auriel Fournier

    Auriel Fournier elected First Vice President of Wilson Ornithological Society

    Jul 10, 2023 9:45 am

    Fournier, director of the Forbes biological station and waterfowl ecologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) began her journey with the Wilson Ornithological Society (WOS), an international scientific society comprising professional and amateur ornithologists, when she attended the Society’s Annual Meeting in 2015 as a Ph.D. student. She will serve as First Vice President for two years before serving as President in 2025

  • gray squirrel

    The squirrel experiment

    Sep 21, 2023 9:45 am
  • Two western diamondback rattlesnakes interacting near dens.

    New research shows rattlesnakes are social animals

    Oct 3, 2023 9:00 am

    Researchers found that a population of rattlesnakes formed social groups that they frequently interacted within. Despite having overlapping home ranges, they rarely if ever interacted with snakes outside of their social groups. The groups were not formed based solely on geography or family relationships, but rather appear to be based on the time of year, as they leave and return to their winter homes.  

  • hunting mourning doves

    Scientist studies support for non-lead ammunition in dove hunting

    Oct 3, 2023 2:15 pm

    A large majority of Illinois mourning dove hunters would oppose a state ban on lead shot when hunting doves, according to an Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) survey focused on beliefs about lead vs. non-lead ammunition. Hunters who already use steel shot for hunting waterfowl because of federal restrictions are the group most likely to oppose these same restrictions when hunting doves.

  • TJ Benson

    Do we need a new approach to prevent bird window strikes?

    Oct 23, 2023 9:00 am

    In early October, nearly 1,000 birds perished after colliding with the windows of a convention center near Lake Michigan in Chicago, marking the largest mass bird die-off in decades. But bird window-strike fatalities are an ongoing threat. Illinois Natural History Survey wildlife ecologist Thomas J. Benson, an expert in bird population trends in Illinois, spoke to News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about the problem and what new strategies may help.

  • Survey: Farmers’ attitudes about land ownership belies some stereotypes

    Jan 25, 2024 10:15 am

    A recent Prairie Research Institute (PRI) study of attitudes about land conservation found that Illinois farmers view themselves as stewards of their land, balancing conservation with earning a profit. Nearly half of farmers surveyed said they would use conservation practices even without financial compensation from federal land conservation programs.

  • Cultivating Innovation: The Intersection of Geography, Climate, and Agricultural Research in Illinois

    Jan 31, 2024 8:45 am

    Since its inception in 2008, the Prairie Research Institute has conducted long-term monitoring of Illinois’ water, soil, and climate. These data, including growing and pest degree days, soil temperature and moisture, water table levels, and in-stream sediment, are used every day by thousands of Illinoisans and by the state’s agriculture, renewable energy, and construction industries.

  • Illinois Natural History Survey medical entomologist Jiayue (Gabriel) Yan peers through a viewing port as he works inside a sealed glove box, using tongs to carefully handle Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

    Starving mosquitoes for science

    Feb 23, 2024 9:45 am

    A behind the scenes look at the Medical Entomology Laboratory at Illinois Nature History Survey and the work of Jiayue (Gabriel) Yan on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

  • Higher soil temperatures this winter foretell potential crop pest problems

    Mar 5, 2024 3:15 pm

    Winter 2023-24 has been warm throughout Illinois, creating conditions ripe for insects to overwinter, according to scientists at the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois.  

  • Learning by listening to the people who live it

    Mar 19, 2024 8:30 am
  • Forbes Biological Station in winter

    Forbes Biological Station celebrates 130th anniversary

    Apr 1, 2024 11:30 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey at the Prairie Research Institute is home to the first inland field station in the United States. Founded 130 years ago, Forbes Biological Station is located in Havana, Illinois. Director Auriel Fournier reflects on the history and research legacy of the Forbes Biological Station on its anniversary.

  • Deer from Cook County

    INHS survey studies Illinois hunters’ beliefs about controlling disease in deer populations

    Apr 3, 2024 11:15 am

    Despite the increase in cases of chronic wasting disease in Illinois deer, hunters in recent years have gained trust in agency actions and are more positive about the use of sharpshooting to control the disease, according to a survey of hunters conducted at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) at the Prairie Research Institute.

  • Sarah Douglass

    INHS malacologist Sarah Douglass among the sixteen employees honored with Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award

    Apr 18, 2024 8:00 am

    Sixteen academic professionals and civil service staff members have received the 2024 Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award. 

  • Timber Rattlesnake

    Study: When do timber rattlesnakes emerge in the spring in Illinois?

    Apr 24, 2024 10:15 am

    Illinois’ timber rattlesnakes emerge from their cold-weather dens hidden below ground and can be seen sunning themselves in the nearby forest foliage as spring temperatures warm. Scientists at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) have found clues to determine when snakes will slither from their over-winter spots to inform conservation officials who manage local habitats.

  • Lake Michigan coast

    PRI research targets coastal resilience and water planning challenges

    Jul 29, 2024 8:00 am

    PRI scientists are investigating how artificial reef complexes can stabilize shorelines and developing strategies to address water sustainability challenges and future water planning. These efforts aim to provide critical insights that will inform decision-making and improve environmental management in the southern Lake Michigan region.

  • Wendy Schelsky

    Wendy Schelsky named 2024-25 Emerging Research Leader

    Aug 13, 2024 10:45 am

    This prestigious award acknowledges researchers who show exceptional promise in their field and are positioned to significantly contribute to advancing health sciences. Wendy's selection for this honor highlights the importance of her work and the impact it has already made. It also reflects the high quality of research and innovation happening at PRI.This prestigious award acknowledges researchers who show exceptional promise in their field and are positioned to significantly contribute to advancing health sciences. Wendy's selection for this honor highlights the importance of her work and the impact it has already made. It also reflects the high quality of research and innovation happening at PRI.

  • Examining an ecosystem: 130 years in the Illinois River valley

    Sep 5, 2024 9:00 am

    For 130 years, Illinois Natural History Survey scientists have been dedicated to studying the Illinois River system at the Forbes Biological Station near Havana, Illinois. Founded in 1894, it is North America’s oldest inland field station.

  • Sarah Douglass, 2024 Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award Winner

    Congratulations to Sarah Douglass, 2024 Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award Winner

    Sep 13, 2024 8:45 am

    Sarah Douglass, an associate research scientist at the Prairie Research Institute since 2008, has significantly contributed to malacology and freshwater mussel conservation. As the head of the mollusk research program, she leads federally listed mussel research and employs eDNA methods for detecting rare species, tracking mussel movements, and long-term monitoring of mussel populations. Sarah's initiatives have enhanced lab efficiency, improved safety measures, and supported student and staff training. Douglass contributes to the university’s research and conservation efforts through her work, presentations, and involvement in statewide and regional conservation committees, supporting the Illinois Natural History Survey’s role in freshwater ecology. See Sarah talk about her work.

  • A woman and man standing along a river bank holding salamander mussels and their shells.

    Endangered salamander mussel found alive in Illinois after nearly 120 years

    Oct 9, 2024 7:00 am

    For the first time in nearly 120 years, researchers confirmed the presence live individuals of the state-endangered salamander mussel in Illinois, marking a major biodiversity milestone for the state.

  • The race to save the little brown bat: How genomic research could rescue a species on the brink of extinction

    Oct 31, 2024 11:00 am

    Researchers are using cutting-edge genomic techniques to help the little brown bat, a species at risk due to white-nose syndrome. By analyzing DNA samples from across the bat's historic range, the team aims to uncover genetic insights that could guide conservation strategies. This collaborative effort among scientists and institutions offers new hope for protecting the bat and other vulnerable wildlife. 

  • ‘World building’ in a video games class

    Nov 13, 2024 9:45 am

    The Concept Art for Video Games class at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign requires students to collaborate on a cohesive visual design for a video game and gives then insight into how the video game industry works. 

  • Adult Syrian Spadefoot Toad discovered in a greenhouse in Burj Arab, Tartous Governorate, Syria, March 18, 2022. This was the second confirmed sighting of the species in the region. Photo by Naeil Khosam.

    Toad discovery brings together Syrian, Illinois scientists

    Dec 18, 2024 2:30 pm

    The Syrian Spadefoot Toad has been rediscovered in the war-torn country with the help of Syrian community scientists and Illinois researchers.

  • A still image from the camera trap video captured by U. of I. student Bethany Warner shows a flying squirrel in Brownfield Woods Oct. 27.

    Flying squirrel documented in Brownfield Woods

    Dec 20, 2024 12:00 pm

    A University of Illinois student researcher recently identified a Southern flying squirrel in a university natural area for the first time in recent memory.

  • A bee visits an echinacea flower.

    Available prairie seed mixes may fall short for pollinators

    Mar 24, 2025 2:45 pm

    As populations of bees and butterflies decline in the Midwest, native prairie restoration becomes crucial. A new Prairie Research Institute study found, however, that many commercial seed mixes used to conserve and restore prairies may not have enough diversity or spring flowering plants to fully support these pollinators.

  • Wetlands geologist Nicolette Sheffield conducts field research at Illinois Beach State Park.

    $2.3 million NOAA grant for PRI research supports conservation of Lake Michigan coast

    Apr 17, 2025 8:00 am

    Prairie Research Institute scientists are conducting a $2.3 million project to support the protection and restoration of part of the Illinois Beach State Park coastal area.

  • Innovative microwave sensors deployed on an unmanned aerial system over the I-FARM facility for soil and biomass sensing in 2024. Photo credit Mohamad Alipour.

    Center for Digital Agriculture, Prairie Research Institute partner to support joint agriculture research

    May 5, 2025 10:00 am

    The Center for Digital Agriculture and the Prairie Research Institute have partnered to offer seed funding for joint research projects.

  • Graphic recording image represents a talk given by one of the paper's co-authors during the workshops.

    Paper addresses natural history collections’ role in pandemic preparedness

    Jun 2, 2025 10:30 am

    Natural history collections contain information needed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to disease outbreaks that could turn into a pandemic — but they are an underused resource. Dozens of collections and other experts gathered last year to analyze how to change that and their findings were recently published in the journal BioScience.

  • Bialeschki named Office Professional of the Year 2025

    Jul 10, 2025 11:15 am

    Cathy Bialeschki was selected as the Office Professional of the Year 2025 by the Illinois Administrative Professionals organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.