The Nature Conservancy in Illinois

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The Nature Conservancy in Illinois

Protecting nature in the Prairie State since 1957. Explore our work at nature.org/illinois.
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07/31/2026

Meet your friendly neighborhood spiders 👋🕷️ Despite often getting painted as villains, these critters are actually heroes in Illinois' ecosystems – and in our own homes and gardens, devouring millions of common pests every year.

Celebrate the release of the new Spider-Man movie by getting to know a few of the common types of spiders that you might spot in your yard or basement:

🌼 Jumping spiders: Adorable Ambushers 🌼 Despite their cute appearance and tiny size, these spiders are ambush predators that can leap 10-40 times their own body length! They can see almost 360° with their eight eyes, giving them a real spidey-sense. When they roam from flower to flower in search of their next meal, they also inadvertently pick up and transfer pollen, aiding in the pollination of many plants.

🕸️ Orb-weavers: The Amazing Spider-Architects 🕸 These large, colorful spiders are the virtuosos behind the iconic, intricately designed wheel-shaped webs that can stretch up to three feet wide. Their webs are made of strong, yet flexible silk and can even be engineered to trap specific types of prey. To keep the web extra sticky and primed to capture their victims, many species actually take down their webs nightly and spin a fresh new one by morning!

🦀 Crab spiders: Master Mimics 🦀 Spiders from this family specialize in camouflaging themselves to sneak up on their prey. First, they pick busy spots where they can lurk undetected – tucked between flower petals, leaf litter, or bark that resemble the colors of their bodies. Then, they wait for the perfect moment to strike with their two long, thick front legs. Some species can even change their body color to match their hiding spot, making them even more lethal predators.

🐺Wolf Spiders: Nightcrawlers 🐺 Move over Jacob! Like real wolves, these spiders are hairy, fast-moving hunters that stalk their prey after nightfall. Most wolf spiders don’t spin webs – they like the thrill of the hunt before feasting. These spiders are also some of the largest species found across the Midwest, averaging around three inches in length.

Spiders aren’t the only superpowered animals in Illinois. Learn about more amazing animals. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/superpowered-animals/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

07/30/2026

“Shkode” is the word for “fire” in Potawatomi and is the root word for fire in other Anishinaabe languages. It is also at the heart of a new name for one of TNC’s preserves in Illinois: Markham Shkode Prairies.

Just 20 miles south of downtown Chicago, in Markham, The Nature Conservancy protects some of the last remaining fragments of native prairie in Illinois. Stewarded by TNC and other partners for the past 55 years, the preserves formerly known as Indian Boundary Prairies are entering a new chapter in their history. Learn more about the name change and what’s coming next for Markham Shkode Prairies.

https://nature.org/markhamrenaming?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

📷 Timothy S. Long

07/29/2026

Experience the beauty of late summer at The Nature Conservancy's Nachusa Grasslands Preserve!

Join guided Nature Tours led by Nachusa’s summer interpreter and discover rolling prairies, hidden woodland gems, sandstone outcroppings and the remarkable transformation of this restored landscape. Whether you're looking for a leisurely walk or a more adventurous hike, there’s something for every nature lover. Come see the wildlife, wildflowers and wide-open vistas that make Nachusa special.

For more information and to signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945afa82baafb6-nachusa9 #/

07/26/2026

Some Midwest moths have names so weird they sound completely made up. 👀 Can you spot the fake moth name? Swipe through and let us know which one you think is the imposter below!

Moths are way more than butterflies’ drab cousins. They're important pollinators and a vital part of healthy ecosystems, helping native plants, birds, bats, and other wildlife thrive. (Also, while there are around 750 butterfly species in the U.S., there are nearly 11,000 species of moths!)

In Illinois, TNC is protecting and restoring habitats to make sure these underappreciated little heroes have the plants and places they need to keep flying, pollinating and doing their part for nature.

👇 Tell us: ❓Which name fooled you? Which moth name is your favorite (even if it’s not on this list!)?

And for those of you who want to do a deeper dive on these moths, here are their common and scientific names:

➡️The Batman (Coelostathma discopunctana)
➡️Ursula Wainscot (Leucania ursula)
➡️The Laugher (Charadra deridens)
➡️Morbid Owlet (Chytolita morbidalis)
➡️The Hag (Phobetron pithecium)

07/25/2026

🐍 Do you know which Midwest state has the most snake species? Which snake is the smallest? Which one grows the longest?

Swipe 👉through the questions and comment your answers below. Then slither on over to the last image to see how you did! Bonus points if you can go 6-for-6 without peeking. 🫣

The snake species featured here (and others) can be found in the Midwest, including at our TNC preserves, where we’re protecting and restoring habitats they depend on. Snakes can be secretive, but TNC's preserves can be a great place to keep an eye out for them!🐍💚

07/24/2026

Agroforestry is used on less than 2% of U.S. farmland—but millions of acres are ready for it. 🌳🌾

A new collaborative project is helping farmers put trees to work on their land—boosting income, improving soil and water, and supporting wildlife. Learn more: https://nature.org/ExpandingAgroforestry?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

07/23/2026

At a time when habitat is increasingly threatened by development, drought, flooding, and wildfires, we need more effective protections and incentives for habitat restoration, not fewer.

The Trump administration recently announced a rule that will rescind the longstanding definition of what it means to “harm” a plant or animal under the Endangered Species Act—saying that habitat destruction is no longer a prohibited form of harm to an endangered species.

This is not the time to weaken the Endangered Species Act, which for more than 50 years has prevented the extinction of approximately 99% of all species that have fallen under its purview.

Read TNC’s full statement. https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/endangered-species-act/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

📸 Photo of piping plover with five chicks tucked under his feathers by Steffen Foerster/TNC Photo Contest 2022

07/18/2026

Protected lands across the Heartland are bursting with summer wildflowers and wildlife—to celebrate, we've crafted the perfect road trip route to experience the magic of the Midwest first hand. 🌻✨🦅

The course we've charted is packed with breathtaking (and often overlooked) nature destinations all over the iconic Midwest—all places we’re working hard to protect for future generations. In Illinois, grab your binoculars and head to Nachusa Grasslands to view a herd of bison roaming a lush restored prairie, followed by a short hop to a bird hotspot in the wetlands of Emiquon Preserve.

Pack your bags and hit the road. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/roadtrip/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

Photo of bison grazing at Nachusa by Dee Hudson
Photo of sunset over water at Emiquon Preserve by Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media

07/17/2026

Now is the time for more, not less, protection of public lands.

National monuments are an important tool for protecting America’s most significant natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.

We are disappointed by—and do not support—the Trump Administration’s recent decision to shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by nearly 90%.

For decades, The Nature Conservancy has worked alongside Tribal Nations, ranchers, federal agencies and local communities to conserve these landscapes while sustaining working lands central to the region’s heritage and economy. We remain committed to protecting these monuments and the irreplaceable cultural resources, iconic wildlife and working ranchlands they support. Read our full statement.

https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/bears-ears-grand-staircase-executive-order/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

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Wrigley Building, 400 North Michigan Avenue, Suite S1100
Chicago, IL
60611

Telephone

+13125802100

Website

https://www.nature.org/illinois

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