These Resources will assist students in research related to the Explorations. Students are encouraged to search for other sources and documents as they explore their areas of interest.
Illinois Trapping Information
Find Illinois furbearer trapping regulations, season dates, and management policies from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Trapping regulations ensure animals are treated humanely and protect the population from overharvest.
Source: Hunt Illinois
Illinois Hunting Information
Find Illinois furbearer hunting regulations, season dates, and management policies from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Hunting regulations ensure animals are treated humanely and protect the population from overharvest.
Source: Hunt Illinois
Information About Bobcats
Find information on Illinois bobcats’ natural history, habits, habitats, positive benefits, description, identification, and more.
Source: Wildlife Illinois
Information About Red Foxes
Find information on Illinois red foxes’ natural history, habits, habitats, positive benefits, description, identification, and more.
Source: Wildlife Illinois
Information About Coyotes
Find information on Illinois coyotes’ natural history, habits, habitats, positive benefits, description, identification, and more.
Source: Wildlife Illinois
Wildlife Monitoring Systems by Lotek
Some of the coyotes monitored in the Critter Map are fitted with Lotek GPS collars. Find equipment information for different animals species and environments, as well as information on how GPS tracking systems function.
Source: Lotek Wireless
Wildlife Monitoring Systems by Telemetry Solutions
Some of the coyotes, foxes and bobcats monitored in the Critter Map are fitted with Telemetry Solutions collars. Find information on the miniaturized GPS Tracking System devices for Wildlife Tracking Research that they offer and the tailored GPS Solutions for many different species.
Source: Telemetry Solutions
Wildlife Monitoring Systems by Telonics
Some of the coyotes, foxes and bobcats monitored in the Critter Map are fitted with Telonics GPS/Iridium collars. These collars collect GPS positions and transfer the positions and other data through the Iridium satellite system. Find information on the different types of equipment used for different animals species and environments.
Source: Telonics
Bobcat Hunting and Trapping
Find information regarding the regulations, history, and harvest data for bobcat hunting and trapping in Illinois.
Source: Hunt Illinois
Understanding and Appreciating Red Fox
Explore the behavior, adaptability, and parenting habits of the red fox.
Source: Outdoor Illinois Journal
Recently Recolonized Bobcats in North-Central Illinois
Article on a research project that was conducted by Southern Illinois University on bobcat capturing, GPS collaring, survival monitoring, home range, habitat selection, and information for bobcat management.
Source: Outdoor Illinois Journal
Managing Wildlife, Habitat and People
Learn how wildlife biologists use the concept of “carrying capacity” to balance wildlife populations with environmental resources and human relationships.
Source: Outdoor Illinois Journal
Creature feature: The cunning and clever red fox
This article details the adaptability, distinctive physical appearance, and size variations of the red fox. These nocturnal hunters are capable of thriving in rural, suburban, and urban environments while displaying a characteristic reddish-orange coat and varying in weight from 6.5 to 20 pounds.
Source: Forest Preserve District of Will County
The Rise of Bobcats in West-Central Illinois
This article outlines a multi-year study by Western Illinois University and the IDNR that evaluated bobcat populations, survival rates, home ranges, and monitoring methods in west-central Illinois outside of their traditional southern Illinois strongholds. Captured bobcats were fitted with GPS or VHF radio-collars to monitor weekly movements, while researchers used remote camera grids during the winter breeding season to capture individual spot patterns.
Source: Outdoor Illinois Journal
The Bobcat Chronicles: How the public helped scientists track bobcats expanding across Illinois
Once scarce and listed as “threatened” in 1977 due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss, bobcats successfully recolonized most of the state’s agriculture-dominated landscape. Analyzing data from 2001 to 2018, researchers found that county-level bobcat presence nearly doubled, expanding from 43% of counties to 83% of counties across Illinois. This study relied heavily on thousands of annual observations provided by volunteers, specifically archery deer hunters participating in statewide surveys.
Source: Outdoor Illinois Journal
Timing is everything: How habitat, humans, and coyotes influence mammal behavior
This article details a two-winter camera-trap study conducted by researchers to investigate how human factors, living parts, and non-living parts of an environment influence the daily schedules of nine Illinois mammal species. Ultimately, the study highlights how environmental changes and human encroachment alter the natural biological rhythms of wildlife, which helps biologists improve monitoring and management strategies.
Source: Outdoor Illinois Journal
Wildlife Illinois Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to questions like “What happens to an animal after it is removed from my property?”, “Why aren’t removed wildlife relocated?”, “Will the Illinois Department of Natural Resources remove wild animals from my property?” and more.
Source: Wildlife Illinois
Prevent Problems
Knowing what resources attract wildlife and taking steps to prevent wildlife damage are keys to reducing human-wildlife conflicts. The best approach to managing wildlife damage is a strategy of non-lethal prevention options before removal of an animal is warranted. Find information on basic management, home care, repellents, frightening devices and more.
Source: Wildlife Illinois
Removing Nuisance Wildlife
Find legal requirements, options, and procedures for removing nuisance wildlife. In Illinois, wildlife is collectively owned by the people, not by individual property owners. Additionally, most species of wildlife are protected under the Illinois Wildlife Code. This means that many species of wildlife may only be legally removed outside of the regular hunting and trapping season by a permitted Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator or with a removal permit issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Source: Wildlife Illinois
Furbearer Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices (BMPs) were developed in 1996 by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for regulated trapping.
The BMP program aims to evaluate animal welfare, identify efficient tools and techniques, and develop recommendations for state fish and wildlife agencies to consider as an element of their wildlife management programs. Regulated trapping is a necessary and effective wildlife management tool, and wildlife professionals across the country believe that trapping BMPs will ensure the continued improvement of this management technique.
Source: National Trappers Association
Coyotes in Illinois
An educational overview of the coyote (Canis latrans), detailing its physical features, behaviors, habitat, and presence in Illinois.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Red Fox in Illinois
An educational overview of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), detailing its physical features, behaviors, habitat, and presence in Illinois.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Bobcats in Illinois
An educational overview of the bobcat (Lynx rufus), detailing its physical features, behaviors, habitat, and presence in Illinois.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Weather Data
Locate high and low temperatures and precipitation data available in a rolling 2-year period.
Source: Accuweather
Sun and Moon Data
Find sunrise, sunset and daylight tables, viewable by selected month/year. Moonrise and moonset data can also be found here.
Source: Timeanddate.com
Urban Coyote Research
The Urban Coyote Research details on the Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project coordinated by Dr. Stan Gehrt. It includes a summary of research findings related to coyotes, population dynamics and management in Cook County, IL, with additional links to scientific publications.
Source: Urban Coyote Research Project
Owning Fur in Chicago
Letter from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fur garment owners.
Source: Andriana Furs, Chicago
Illinois Regulations Governing Nuisance Wildlife Control
Illinois Administrative Code 17 Part 525 details what permits and rules govern the control and removal of nuisance wild animals.
Source: Illinois General Assembly and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Hunting and Trapping Regulations
Hunting and trapping regulations ensure animals are treated humanely and protect the population from overharvest. These regulations are outlined in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations (published annually).
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Homeowners and Wildlife Report
A study conducted by the Illinois Natural History Survey to determine homeowners’ attitudes toward wildlife around their home, types of wildlife damages experienced, and interactions with, and preferences for, management actions related to coyotes.
Source: Illinois Natural History Survey
Coyotes Finding New Home in Downtown Chicago
Coyotes usually try to avoid human contact. Yet animal experts say an increasing number of coyotes are setting up shop in one of most dense urban labyrinths: downtown Chicago. The seemingly incongruous marriage between coyotes and a people-packed habitat has occurred naturally, according to Stan Gehrt, an Ohio State University professor who specializes in coyote research in Cook County. Gehrt said he and his team know of no deliberate efforts to release coyotes into the downtown area.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Chicago’s Urban Coyotes
An interview with researcher Dr. Stan Gehrt of The Ohio State University featuring information and video on coyote adaptations to urban habitats, risks to humans and mortality and survival rates of urban coyotes.
Source: WTTW 11 • Chicago Tonight