Wild Things 2019

Baltimore Checkerspots Are Remarkable: Mark and Recapture Study and Habitat Restoration for One of the Iconic Butterflies in the Chicago Region
Tom Velat, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Since 2010, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been conducting mark and recapture studies and restoration work for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton). Hear a brief background of the species status in our area and observations of its response to management and rainfall at the District’s only known breeding population in DuPage County.

Using Radio Telemetry to Monitor Movements of Common Mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus) in Wolf Lake, Chicago
Jared Bilak, SIU/Shedd Aquarium; Matt Whiles; Robin Warne; Phil Willink, The Aquarius Project
The common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is listed as an Illinois threatened species, yet its seasonal behavior is not well understood. Working with the Shedd Aquarium, we implanted 27 radio telemetry transmitters over two study periods to track mudpuppy habitat use throughout the year in Wolf Lake, Chicago. Significant movements during one study period were initiated by temperature changes.

A collaborative approach to understanding the bats of Northeastern Illinois
Liza Lehrer, Urban Wildlife Institute, Lincoln Park Zoo; Juanita Armstrong-Ullberg and Jessica Prince, Forest Preserve District of Will County; Greg Rajsky, Severson Dells Nature Center
Bats play a vital role in our ecosystem yet are currently facing several major threats. Several agencies are collaborating in a coordinated study to monitor bats in Northeastern Illinois. Bat calls are recorded by volunteers who walk transects through local natural areas. These data will be used to determine how bats use the region’s urban landscape and how the bat community is changing over time.