Lesson 1: Habitats Habitats may look different from one place to another but they meet the needs of the animals that live there (food, shelter and water). Our region of Illinois is home to 4 habitat types: urban, grasslands/prairies, woodlands and wetlands.
Wetland
Woodland
Grassland/prairie Urban Urban: An urban habitat is where the lives of wildlife and humans overlap. Urban habitats are dominated by infrastructure with green space mixed in. ● Animals have adapted to live in unique places such as our backyards and under our porches. ○ Birds nest under bridges and in flower pots on a balcony ○ Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks will make dens under porches ○ Squirrels and raccoons will also make nests/dens in an attic ● Wildlife has learned to thrive in urban areas. Urban species are typically a mix if native and nonnative species. ● Urban wildlife use human food sources such as garbage, bird feeders or pet food. ○ They are often generalists in regard to habitat and food. ● These animals are highly adaptable to human disturbances and environmental changes such as noise and light pollution, habitat fragmentation and chemical runoff. Urban: An urban habitat is where the lives of wildlife and humans overlap. Urban habitats are dominated by infrastructure with green space mixed in. ● Urban animals vary in their dependence on humans. ○ Domestic species (cats, dogs, livestock) are fully dependent on humans for care but often interact with wild animals through competition for resources, disturbance of nests and predation. ● Some wildlife (for example: raccoon, virginia opossum, rock dove, house mouse, european starling) have learned to exploit humans and have taken advantage of our resources. ○ These animals have learned that garbage is a source of food, visit backyard bird feeders and have seen their populations increase in this environment because of the removal of predators. ● Other animals (for example: coyote, white-tailed deer, american robin, red-tailed hawk) have learned to live alongside humans but do not depend on us to meet their needs ○ These animals are often living on the outskirts of developed areas. Adaptability is key with these animals as they are able to survive in a variety of habitats. Grassland: Prairie
● Prairies, a type of grassland, typically develop on level/flat landscape, often appearing as if they go on for miles along the horizon. ● Prairie plants are often deeply rooted to enable regrowth after a fire or harsh winter. ○ Frequent fires in the American midwest have prevented trees from developing in the prairies. ● Prairie animals are resilient species able to adjust to hazardous weather, predators, and fire. ○ Many prairie species have learned to burrow below ground, fly fast, and blend in with their surroundings. ○ Birds have adapted to nesting on ground. ● Pre European settlement, Illinois was 60% covered in prairie. Grasslands: Savannah Savannas are a plant community where trees are present but scarce enough to allow grasses and other herbaceous vegetation to be the dominant plants in the community.
● The majority of savannas in the midwest are dominated by oak trees and this habitat is one of the most endangered habitats in the world due to fragmentation and urbanization. ● Our oak savannas are usually found in the border between prairies and forests. ○ Like prairies, oak savannas are managed by fires and the oak trees have developed over time to be fire resistant. The large open-growth oaks provide varying shade levels in the savanna leading to three types of plants growing in the savanna: sun-loving prairie plants, shade-tolerant woodland plants and savanna specialists ● Wildlife is intertwined in the identity of an oak savanna. The large oak trees provide shelter and food for many including red-headed woodpeckers. ● Acorns are a great food source for rodents and deer. Wildlife browsing on understory brush has maintained the distinctive look of the savanna. Savannas are the ideal habitat for many species including bobwhite quail, wild turkey, rabbits and deer. Cavity-nesting birds thrive in oak savannas. ● The United States has seen a loss in the populations of these birds because of habitat loss. Cavity-nesters are typically insect eaters and are natural insect pest controllers in this habitat. Woodland
● Originally, Illinois had 13.8 million acres of trees. Today, we have about 4.3 million acres. Illinois forests were cleared for farming, lumber and firewood. ● 75% of Illinois’ native wildlife species require forest habitat for a portion of their lifecycle ● Illinois forests provide habitat for more than 420 vertebrate species ● Over 120 bird species utilize Illinois forests for nesting ● The dense trees provide food and shelter for many types of species including Great Horned Owls, Gray Squirrels, Red Foxes, and more. Wetland: Nature’s Filter A wetland is an area that is covered with shallow water, or has soil saturated with water during specific seasons. ● Illinois has lost over 90% of its original wetlands mostly due to land use changes such as highways, and developed areas preventing water runoff, erosion, ● Wetlands are considered a dynamic resource, meaning it changes depending on rain and weather conditions ● Wetlands have many functions- flood prevention, wildlife and fish habitat, and can improve the water quality of streams and lakes ● Many different species thrive here or use it for breeding season/egg laying. Lesson 2: Wildlife Babies Learn about different populations, natural history, and wildlife babies! Populations: All of the animals of the same species living in a specific area. All of the bunnies that may live in your yard are a part of the population for your yard, just as you are a part of the human population for your town! How each species raises their babies, find food, and the role they play in the ecosystem, and is unique to that species natural history.
These bunnies will leave the nest at 3 weeks old and can contribute to the population at 2 months!
These Canada Geese and their babies are a part of this pond’s population! The babies leave their parents after 1 year and contribute to that population. Natural History of Native Species
A species natural history looks mainly at the reproductive strategies of different species. There are two main groups when looking at the natural history of an area. K selected species means that species only has one or two babies at a time, and puts a lot of resources and energy into their offspring. R selected species means that they have lots of babies at once, but put less energy or time into caring for them. Which of the following species would fall under K selected, and which would fall under R selected?
Cottontails average litter size is 6 babies, but Bison stay with their mom and are fully can have up to 14. They stay in a nest, not with weaned at 6 months old. Bison only have 1 mom, and are fully weaned and on their own by calf a year. 3 weeks old. Natural History: How many babies an animal has, and how it raises them is all a part of an animal’s natural history! Which category would you put each of these animals in?
Foxes can have up to 12 babies at once, and the mom stays with them for three or four months before they are out on their own.
Great Horned Owls lay 2-3 eggs each season, and stay with their babies for up to a year after hatching! Adaptations: a trait, or feature, that an animal has that helps it survive in its environment! A Red-Tailed Hawk has sharp talons and beak Opossums have tails that can to help it grab onto things, called capture and eat prehensile tails, as well as its prey. The black “mask” around a “thumbs” that help them balance raccoon's eyes reduces glare and climb! and helps them see better in the dark! Predator-Prey Relationships
A carnivore is an animal that eats meat, while a herbivore is an animal that eats plants. An omnivore is an animal that eats both meat and plants! Carnivores, and some omnivores, have to hunt their food. These animals are called predators, while the animal they are hunting is the prey. This creates a delicate balance between all species, where if one species isn’t doing well, it can affect the rest of them. If cottontail rabbits are dying off due to a disease, red-tailed hawks will suffer as well because cottontails makeup a big part of their diet. Wildlife Babies Learn about how native wildlife reproduces and survives when young in the wild!
Altricial Species Precocial Species
When humans are born they cannot walk, or even hold their head up on their own. Animals who need weeks, or even months, of care from their parents before they are able to survive on their own (like humans) are called altricial. Animals who are born with all of their hair, feathers, or scales, and are able to move around on their own are called precocial. Orphaned Wildlife Babies: learn how to recognize when a baby needs help and when it should be left alone! Things to check to see if a baby is orphaned: ● Is the baby warm or cold? When mom is frequently tending to her babies, they will be warm. If they are not, they might be orphaned! ● Are there bugs on the baby? If there are, it means mom is probably not around to clean them up and keep bugs away. ● Is the baby injured? Even if you see mom tending to the baby, if it is obviously injured, it will still need help. Contact a licensed rehabber in your area before handling any wildlife. ● If you are not sure, please call a rehabilitator before taking any action. Orphaned Wildlife Babies: learn how to recognize when a baby needs help and when it should be left alone!
● Imprinting is when wildlife babies learn how to act by watching their parents. If wildlife babies are raised by humans, they may think they are human! This is why it’s important to make sure an orphan is being raised by someone who is trained to prevent this. ● Wildlife receives very specialized care from their mothers! Their mothers know how to take care of them the best, so we want them to have the best chance possible of staying wild! That is why there are laws stating that only trained and certified people are allowed to raise orphaned wildlife. What can you do to help?
● Keep your cats indoors during baby season! ● Educate yourself and others! Teach others what you have learned today. Lesson 3: Multi-Species Relationships
Both plants and different animal species must interact living out in the wild. There are many different forms of interactions, some are neutral, beneficial, or negative. Mutualism
Mutualism is the term for the type of relationship that is beneficial to both species.
● Monarch butterflies feed on the milkweed plant leaves. As the sticky sap from these leaves is also a chemical poison, it protects the larvae from any vertebrate attackers. The butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed, which helps the milkweed in pollination in return. ● Hummingbirds drink flower nectar. In return, the flower gets to have its pollen spread around by the hummingbird. These two organisms benefit from each other. ● Deer allow birds to eat bugs off their fur. In this way, deer can get rid of the insects on their bodies, while birds derive their food from them. ● Birds, bats & insects who visited plants for a number of reasons and in the process picked up pollen, allowed those plants a greater opportunity for genetic diversity. Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of relationship where one species benefits at the cost of another.
● A brown-headed cowbird is considered a cruel parasite. It lays its eggs in the nest of other birds, making the host birds take care of its eggs. The bird’s eggs get a natural ready-made shelter by encroaching upon the nests of other species. ● A classic example of parasitism in the deciduous forest would be the relationship between a tick and a white-tailed deer. The tick stays and feeds on the nutrients in the deer. In this process, the deer may get an infectious disease from the tick. The tick sucks in nutrients from the deer and harms it. Commensalism
Commensalism is the term for the relationship where one species benefits from the other, but neither helps nor harms them in the process.
● Squirrels use the trees for protection and nesting,but the tree isn't harmed in any way. ● Birds nest in the tree and neither harmed nor hurt it in the process ● Frogs use plants as protection and camouflage, but the plants are not harmed or helped in any way.
Squirrel Nest Bird Nest Amensalism
Amensalism is a type of relationship where one species is harmed and the other is unaffected.
● Bison stepping on grass and plants as they walk negatively affects the grass, but it does not help or hurt the bison. ● Humans are the most prominent example of this type of relationship. We do things like cut our grass and cut down forests for industrial purposes. We are taking away food, shelter, and habitat from multiple species and have no direct benefit from these things. Cutting grass is an aesthetic choice, and cutting trees down for industrial purposes benefits only one specific part of the economy. Lesson 4: Humans Relating to Wildlife Learn all about how wildlife and humans interact!
Humans have made a big impact on wildlife and their habitats- and not all of them are good. Ecosystems are interconnected, so all the parts of an ecosystem rely on the other parts of the ecosystem to do well. It’s like a machine, if one part of it doesn’t work, then the whole thing stops working!
As the human population grows, we need more resources and space. This competition for resources in the ecosystem can be detrimental to wildlife. Things like deforestation for land use and pollution can cause big issues for animals. Some negative effects that are caused by humans is the increase in disease, injury, and mortality (or death) rates in wild animals.
Cats and dogs are very good hunters, and can be an issue for wildlife if left outside. They can injure or kill birds and mammals, such as rabbits.
Pollution and litter can cause all kinds of issues with wildlife. This fishing line impaled a Canada Goose’s foot, making him unable to walk. Litter can get ingested and cause digestive Big, reflective mirrors in high rise issues and spread disease as buildings confuse birds causing well. them to hit the window and get injured or die. Invasive Species are a species who are not native to the area, and were introduced there on purpose, or by accident.
European Starlings were introduced to the USA from House Sparrows were Europe in the late 1800’s. introduced to the USA in the Norway Rats were introduced to They compete for food and 1870’s. They compete for food the USA in the 1770’s. They steal nests from native and steal nests from native spread disease and can be a species, such as Wood sparrows. huge pest to homeowners. Ducks, and Woodpeckers. “Nuisance” Animals: some species, such as raccoons, are considered a nuisance because they sometimes cause issues for humans like getting into attics, under the porch, or stealing food from trash cans. These issues can be avoided by making sure all openings are sealed, and food is in a bag with the lid secured. How can you help? ● Volunteering at local wildlife shelters, or even cleaning up litter in your area can be a huge help to wildlife! ● Be responsible! Keep your pets on a leash when they are outside, so that they aren’t able to kill or injure any wildlife. ● Recycle! Don’t litter and put any recyclable plastics and paper in the proper bins! This is a huge help to both people and animals. Fox Valley Wildlife Center challenges you to get outside and identify 3 types of mammals!