CliffNotes
Shed Hunting–A Deer Hunter’s Second Favorite Sport
Almost as popular as deer hunting, searching for Whitetail deer antler sheds can be satisfying and provide exercise to boot! Be sure to get permission to shed hunt on property that does not belong to you. There is an Illinois law on the books that prohibits hunting for sheds on others’ property without permission from […]
Comprehending Animal Tracks Enriches Your Understanding of Nature
The snow we experienced in mid-December brought with it the opportunity to discover an abundance of animal tracks, turning a simple path into a deer superhighway. It’s fascinating to see where the critters go in their travels in the woods. Perhaps they feel the same way when they see our footprints or UTV tracks. Let’s […]
Let’s Talk Turkey
‘Tis the season for eating turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, 88% of the Americans surveyed eat turkey on Thanksgiving. That translates to 46 million turkeys consumed on Thanksgiving while another 22 million provide the main course at Christmas. These birds are mostly commercially grown turkeys bred and raised for the sole purpose of […]
Thousands of Sinkholes, Hundreds of Caves, Dozens of Rare Species…. Recent Discoveries and New Data About Our Karst Landscapes
Sinkholes are the most obvious karst landscape feature in southwestern Illinois. Using GIS tools and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) images, over 15,000 sinkholes have been mapped in the area of Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair Counties known as the Sinkhole Plain. Monroe County recently launched an interactive map showing sinkhole distribution in the county […]
Waterfowl Conservation in Southwest Illinois
By Carl Handel, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Historically, Illinois was wetland rich and consequently a waterfowl abundant land prior to settlement. What emerged was a strong waterfowling tradition among its citizens that extended from the early days of market hunting to some of the best waterfowl research and conservation in the nation. […]
Bats: Shedding Light on Nocturnal Wildlife
By Vona Kuczynska, biologist with Wildheart Ecology If someone asked you to name ten different kinds of mammals, you may list off zebras, elephants, tigers, chimpanzees, or even dogs or cats. What may not immediately come to mind are bats, even though they make up one fifth of all mammals on our planet! There are […]
Why Seeds? Why now?
By Martin Kemper, retired IDNR Heritage Biologist If you read; if you listen; if you simply look out your window as you travel about you will know… know that we are living in what historians are beginning to refer to as the 6th great extinction event. The fifth such event was the result of an […]
A Prescription for Better Health: Get Outdoors
Spending time outdoors, especially among trees and flowers, is one of the fastest ways to improve your health and happiness. It’s been shown to improve memory, lower stress, blood pressure and heart rate, while encouraging physical activity and improving mood and mental health. A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, […]
Prairie Ecology at Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve
Clifftop’s 535 acre Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve (PWSNP) is now open to the public for passive nature oriented recreation and education! The grand opening occurred May 18 when over 100 folks gathered on the site to dedicate the newly constructed pavilion, accessible hiking trail, outdoor exhibits / trail guide, landscaping and parking / restroom […]
Come See the Splendor of our Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve
By Jared Nobbe, Clifftop President I remember the first time I stepped foot on what would become the Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve. At the time, I was called out to help evaluate equipment that was being stored on the property. As I worked my way through the rather impressive collection of antique equipment among […]