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Additionally, many projects or studies which are identified and proposed by DOC are actually carried out by other groups. For example, the Illinois Natural History Survey has conducted a $15,000 mussel survey on the Mackinaw River and Northern Illinois University did the $25,000 winter bald eagle use study of the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio Rivers.
Among other DOC-proposed projects, which were carried out by others, are included a golden mouse study by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale for $5,200; construction of artificial heron nest structures at Baker’s Lake by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation for $4,000; and a study of amphibians and reptiles on prairie preserves by Eastern Illinois University for $5,000.
Without a dedicated funding source, equipment tax or license fee, checkoff dollars are crucial to protect nongame wildlife. Researchers and land managers from across the state and in myriad other institutions are also crucial to the common goal of saving our natural heritage in Illinois.
