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Featured Articles

  1. Article number 1 - May is Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month
  2. Article number 2 - OutdoorIllinois Online
  3. Article number 3 - Spring Turkey Hunting in Illinois
  4. Article number 4 - May is National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week is May 14-18
  5. Article number 5 - Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair - Pere Marquette State Park

  • 4 Illinois invasive speciesMay is Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month

    Hundreds of invasive species occur in Illinois, and, unfortunately, the list grows almost daily. Invasive species disrupt the ecological balance that has evolved in specific habitats, introducing unfamiliar flora and fauna into the communities of life in our wetlands, forests, prairies, rivers and lakes. If unchecked, invasive species can limit how lands and waters can be used by future generations.

    Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed May Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month. Visit www.invasive.org/illinois to learn about educational and volunteer activities taking place in your area and what you can do to prevent the spread of invasive species. Please, grab your favorite pair of work gloves, gather some friends and devote a few hours of your time to help preserve the natural community we know as Illinois.

  • OutdoorIllinois Online

    OutdoorIllinois Online connects the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with today’s Prairie State sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts in the digital world. At OutdoorIllinois Online you'll find more outdoor news, in-depth features, how-to tips and great places to visit in our wild Illinois. Check out our “bonus" features, including full-length stories about Illinois’ natural and cultural resources, plus outdoors blogs, where DNR staff and guests offer their insights into the wild opportunities awaiting us all. If you prefer, listen to a one of our feature stories as a Podcast. Whether you were an original subscriber to the award-winning print version of OutdoorIllinois magazine or have just discovered us on the Web, you’ll find the complete listing of articles by category—including archives features—useful tools for finding outdoor topics of interest.

  • Turkey HuntingSpring Turkey Hunting in Illinois

    Illinois’ spring wild turkey hunting season has become one of the state’s most popular outdoor activities. The thriving population of wild turkeys in Illinois is a remarkable wildlife restoration success story. Wild turkeys disappeared from the Illinois landscape in the early 1900s. The state began a restoration effort by releasing wild-trapped birds in southern Illinois in 1958, and hunting resumed with the state’s first modern turkey season in 1970 – with a statewide harvest of 25 birds. Thanks to the support of landowners, hunters and conservation organizations, the wild turkey flock today attracts thousands of hunters throughout Illinois, with the spring turkey harvest topping 15,000 birds in 2011.

  • National Bike Month logoMay is National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week is May 14-18

    Curb Your Car During Bike to Work Week and save some gas money! Or just curb your car when you can and choose alternative transportation for your commute or your errands. With gas prices at around $4 per gallon, the League of American Bicyclists estimates the average annual cost of keeping your automobile running at $3,000 or more, vs. less than $300 to maintain your bike. Curbing your car is a great way to get exercise, save some money, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. So, tune up your bike, reload your bus pass or get those walking/ running shoes ready for Curb Your Car During Bike to Work Week, and encourage friends, family and fellow employees to leave their cars at home and bike, walk, run or take the bus to work.

  • Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair - Pere Marquette SPTwo Rivers Family Fishing Fair - Pere Marquette State Park

    Bring your family to the 21st Annual FREE Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois on Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This free event offers over 25 stations of fun and education for the entire family: a trout pond; bluegill pond; seminars by professional fishermen; water safety, and more. No license or fishing gear are needed. There will be gifts and prizes for everyone! This year we are featuring Camo the Clown, and a 4,000 gallon aquarium by Fetch-n-Fish stocked with many Illinois fish found in the Illinois River. There will be food, refreshments and entertainment the entire day. For more information, you contact Pere Marquette State Park at 618-786-3323 X 1, or visit our website. Sponsored by Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.