Wild Ones Southwest Illinois Chapter

06/09/2026

Looking for a fun and impactful post-4th of July activity? Join the St. Louis Audubon Society and the Missouri Department of Conservation for a two-site cleanup at O'Fallon Park Lake and Fairground Park Lake on July 5th from 9:00 am–1:00 pm.
Sign Up Here-

Event Date and Time: July 5, 2026, 9:00am-1:00pm Location: O'Fallon Park Lake (near the O'Fallon Park Boathouse, 2001 E Harris Ave, St. Louis, MO 63107) and Fairground Park Lake. Please join St. Louis Audubon Society and Missouri Department of Conservation as we work to cleanup the lake areas at O'F...

06/08/2026

These tips and tricks for w**d control are great!

June feels like the time each year when the w**ds get away from gardeners. The long warm days and the fact that there is usually still ample moisture means the vegetables, and the w**ds grow fast. And as the sun gets hotter it gets less and less exciting to be out in the garden for […]

06/05/2026

Volunteer opportunities 👇

Prairies, meadows, and creeks need care to keep them healthy for wildlife. If you're interested in volunteering to help some special places, there are several opportunities coming up:

🦋 Poag Sand Prairie, Edwardsville - June 11, 8 am to 11 am
🐦 Exploration Garden, Swansea - June 12, 8 am to 11 am
🐢 Stream Clean Up, Bethalto, June 13, 9 am to noon
🦡 Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, Edwardsville, June 18, 8 am to 11 am

Learn more and sign up on our website: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/events-calendar/

06/04/2026

🎁Gift article

“It is my gym, it is my temple, it is my therapy, it provides me nutritious food — It’s just everything to me ...” the homeowner said.

06/02/2026

Want to help keep the water clean in our region's rivers and creeks?

You can help at a stream cleanup of the Rocky Branch at Steve Bryant Park in Bethalto, Illinois. Rocky Branch flows into Wood River creek and ultimately into the Mississippi River. We'll be removing trash from the creek to help all of these streams stay a little cleaner.

If you'll be in the area, join us and our friends from the Village of Bethalto, Madison County, and National Great Rivers Research and Education Center on June 13, 2026 from 9 am to noon.

Location: Steve Bryant Park
4300 Culp Ln, Bethalto, IL 62010
Register here: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/event/stream-cleanup-steve-bryant-park/

By registering, you’ll help us plan the right amount of supplies for the day. Specific details will be sent via email before the event.

This event is part of River Days of Action (June 1-15) — One Mississippi’s two weeks of in-person and online events connecting people across the country to the Mississippi River and making a difference for people, land, water, and wildlife. Explore more events at mississippiriver.org/river-days-of-action.


1 Mississippi National Great Rivers Research and Education Center Bethalto Village Madison County Resource Management Illinois EPA

06/02/2026

What’s happening in the world of native plants this month? 🌿

From rare wildflowers emerging after prescribed fire in Georgia to community-led shrub restoration in New York and growing concerns over drought impacts on pollinators in Florida, our latest Native Plant News roundup explores stories shaping native landscapes across the country.

👉 Read more: https://wildones.org/may-2026-native-plant-news/

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Registration URL ➡️ https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348862&id=428

05/28/2026

Did you know on Oct. 1, 2025, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources added nine more invasive plants to the list of species that are illegal to buy, sell, distribute, or plant in Illinois, including tree of heaven, garlic mustard, and Callery pear?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The forests and prairies of Illinois have a new line of defense against harmful non-native plants. On Oct.

05/26/2026

Amazing, and EDIBLE!

Did you know that our region's native prickly pear cactus, in addition to looking beautiful, is an important plant for wildlife?

Animals like ornate box turtles, white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits, coyotes, striped skunks, and thirteen-lined ground squirrels eat the fruit and sometimes the pads of the cactus. It's especially desirable during dry periods, which are happening more frequently.

Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary in Edwardsville, Illinois, has a large population of these stunning species. It's important to protect places like this for wildlife.

We're hosting a walk among the cactus blossoms on June 4 at 9 am. If you'll be in the Edwardsville area, sign up on our website:
https://heartlandsconservancy.org/event/cactus-blossom-walk-at-knoll-wildlife-sanctuary-2/