Wildlife and Habitat
At nearly 400 miles long, Illinois hosts tremendous biological diversity.
From the Iowa Pleistocene snail in the northwest, to bird-voiced treefrogs in 1,000-year-old cypress swamps in the south, Illinois is home to some 58 mammal species, 383 different resident and migrant birds, 104 types of reptiles and amphibians, 174 species of fish, and some 27,000 types of insects, mussels, and other invertebrates.

food production
Farms cover about 75% of the Illinois' total land area.

Habitat & Wildlife
Native Illinois habitats are changing and disappearing.
Wildlife in Illinois
Native habitats are key to our wildlife’s future—unfortunately, habitats in Illinois have changed enormously and many wildlife populations have declined at alarming rates as a result. For example, the size of woodlands in Illinois act as a limiting factor on some native species’ populations, making the protection of larger size woodlands necessary. Moreover, there are cross-benefits to protecting wildlife habitat—flood control, recreation, soil erosion control, and open space.
Moreover, the Illinois economy realizes nearly $1.1 billion every year from expenditures related to watching wildlife and hunters spend nearly $150 million a year pursuing game. More than $550 million is spent each year on recreational fishing, and the annual retail value of commercial fishing is $4 million. This wildlife-oriented recreation plays an important economic role in many depressed and declining small communities.
Habitats of Special Significance in Illinois
Conservation Updates
Why Chicago needs Department of Environment and why we need one now
A decade ago, the City of Chicago under the Emanuel administration dissolved its Department of Environment, leaving a broad range of environmental issues to be...
Read More >>Agriculture Lease Agreements with Illinois Department of Natural Resources
In December of 2021, Lindsay Keeney and Eliot Clay of the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) sat down with Mike Chandler and Bob Caveny of the...
Read More >>Illinois’ 2022 Enviro Legislative Agenda
See the top environmental bills being considered by the Illinois General Assembly this year.
Read More >>A Look at Chicago’s Environmental Justice Battles, Impacts and Solutions
Though Chicago has recently made historic climate and environmental justice budget investments, the city still has much to do in the way of ensuring equitable...
Read More >>From the Halls of Government to Some of Illinois’ Most Beautiful Places
Get a peek behind the scenes during some of our farm and conservation tour stops with Illinois legislators and decision makers.
Read More >>Statement on U.S. House Passage of the Build Back Better Act, Once-in-a-Generation Climate Legislation
Springfield, IL — The Illinois Environmental Council issued the following statement in response to the passage of historic climate legislation in the U.S. House of...
Read More >>