Illinois State Biologist

Sharing scientific information about plants, animals, fungi and ecosystems of The Prairie State | @INHSIllinois @PrairieResInst @Illinois_Alma

[Illinois State Biologist @ILBiologist]

Hi everybody!

This is the official account of the Illinois State Biologist

This position is housed at the IL Natural History Survey (@INHSIllinois), part of the Prairie Research Institute (@PrairieResInst) at the Univ. of IL Urbana-Champaign (@Illinois_Alma)

[Illinois State Biologist @ILBiologist]

Looking forward to following this account after a new State Biologist is named

[Illinois State Biologist @ILBiologist]

**FLOUNCE POST ALERT**
Well, not actually flouncing, but I am about to leave my position as IL State Biologist and Director of the @INHSillinois. It has been an honor to help share information about the amazing flora, fauna, and fungi of the Prairie State!

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

The weather might have been frightful for last weekend's @ChiBoatShow, but not as frightful as invasive species in the #GreatLakes! The @ILINSeaGrant AIS team will be back at it this weekend at the 2024 Muskie Expo Chicago! Stop by our booth and get https://t.co/EL8xV3lkcB swag!

[Illinois State Biologist @ILBiologist]

This critter left quite an impression!
Some science sleuthing and concrete facts point to a probable airdrop culprit

[Urban Wildlife Inst. @LPZ_UWI]

Dr. Seth Magle (@sbmagle), our director, reveals three reasons why the #Chicago rat hole might not have come from a rat! A 🧵 1/4

https://t.co/QyxXYJbeCa

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

Learn all about the conservation of native crayfish species and the development of the American Crayfish Atlas at @BloomerCaitlin's webinar TODAY (Wednesday Jan 17) at 2 PM CT/3 PM ET - register here: https://t.co/l1nM7QMHdi

[Illinois Natural History Survey @INHSillinois]

#NowHiring: Fisheries/Aquatic Ecologist Research Technician! 🎣 Join Sam Parr Biological Station in exciting research on sportfish management and invasion biology. Dive into impactful work—apply today at https://t.co/hmS3ZXvlkO

#JobOpportunity #ResearchTech #FisheriesEcology

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

🎶Give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the reindeer and the Santa-lope play🎶

We head out to the range on Day 17 to find the black buffalo (Ictiobus niger), a native sucker species and this week's #SundayFishSketch mystery fish! 🦬🐟 #25DaysofFishmas

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

Hey wait a second, that’s no fish!

Day 18 of #25DaysofFishmas brings a visit from a Sandy Claws imposter: the Rusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus), an invasive crustacean throughout much of the #GreatLakes and unexpected #Fishmas party crasher

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

You couldn’t PICK a better fish to help ring in the #Fishmas season on Day 16!

The grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) is the Tiny Tim of the pike family and a small but mighty addition to #25DaysofFishmas!

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

Dashing through the snow, in a one-(red)horse open sleigh! ❄️

We're laughing all the way with the black redhorse (Moxostoma duquesnei) on Day 12 - no long faces here! 🐴 #25DaysofFishmas

[Illinois DNR @IllinoisDNR]

IDNR biologists, with support from contracted commercial fishers, wrapped up a 10-day intensive harvest operation in the Illinois River, resulting in the removal of an astonishing 750,000 pounds of silver carp between 11/27 and 12/6.

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

Day 4 brings us one cat you just can’t get MAD at for getting into your #Fishmas tree - the stonecat madtom (Noturus flavus)! 🎄🐈

The stonecat is one of ~30 species of tiny catfishes called madtoms found throughout eastern and central North America #25DaysofFishmas

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

On the third day of #Fishmas, my true love gave to me … a very appropriately named species!

Day 3’s feature is the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), a tiny fish with a big attitude - and this year’s first #SundayFishSketch mystery species! #25DaysofFishmas

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

The weather outside may be frightful, but it’s just delightful for Day 2’s #GreatLakes feature! ❄️

The brook trout's scientific name (Salvelinus fontinalis) comes from a Latin word meaning "of a spring/fountain" in reference to the cold, clear waters they prefer #25DaysofFishmas

[Illinois State Biologist @ILBiologist]

#25DaysofFishmas is ON!

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

Over the river and through the woods, to #25DaysofFishmas we go! 🌊🌲

2023’s first #GreatLakes fish feature is the River Chub (Nocomis micropogon), a species whose scientific name “Nocomis” appropriately enough comes from the Ojibwe word for grandmother!

[Katie O'Reilly @DrKatfish]

Coming soon: #25DaysofFishmas 2023! It's hard to believe that this Friday December 1 marks the 7th straight year of annual fishy fun - where has the time gone?!?

Get ready for a new round of daily #GreatLakes fish facts including some treats, Grinches, and even a few surprises!

[McHenry County Conservation District @DiscoverMCCD]

🦅Northern Harriers, an Illinois endangered species, can often be seen in fall and winter hunting small mammals over grasslands and marshes. Their owl-like faces help direct sound to their ears to better hear and detect prey.

📷Photo by Lynn Lutman

[Illinois State Climatologist @ILClimatologist]

Wetter July-August in the past two growing seasons limited ag drought impacts in Illinois, but we're seeing the legacy of consecutive drought years in deeper soil moisture and water table levels.
We'll keep monitoring drought through the winter and hope for improvement. #ilwx

[Forest Preserves @FPDCC]

There’s a big new connection on Chicago’s Southeast Side. We cut the ribbon this morning on a cutting-edge conservation project that links our Powderhorn Lake with Wolf Lake.

[Diana Yates @diana_yates_]

Window treatments, building design, lighting changes and radar monitoring of bird migration can reduce bird window-strike fatalities, says @UofIllinois @INHSillinois wildlife ecologist @Thomas_J_Benson in an interview. @PrairieResInst @ACESIllinois
https://t.co/GgQBPSHGj8