Everyday Environment Podcast

What is the difference between snow, sleet and freezing rain?

When people get excited about supporting wildlife on their property, they are usually referring to the ones bring us joy or whimsy or the ones that bring us some function such as pollination. But that sense of awe and wonder with nature tends to take a turn into annoyance, and even fear when we stumble upon more nuisance animals. Learn more about the less charismatic wildlife and how they serve ou...

Resources:    https://learningstore.extension.wisc.edu/products/grassland-birds-fostering-habitats-using-rotational-grazing-p103 https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/GrasslandBirdsWorkbook.pdf https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/agricultural_practices_that_conserve_grasslands_birds_(e3190).pdf

It seems like summer just started, but now is a great time to start planning for fall landscape installations! If you’ve got trees in your backyard, consider adding soft landings around the bases of them. 

If you have had any questions about what to do about your Ponds and whether or not weeds and/or algae are good for your pond listen to this episode to find out more from Duane Friend.

May Theilgaard Watts was an illinois naturalist, author, and poet who worked to develop nature themed programming and educational materials that helped people understand the world around them. You may recognize her work in the famous “Tree Finder” book used by countless naturalists and educators.  Learn about this Illinoisan and the contributions she made to our understanding of the natural world.

Large Predators returning to Illinois is becoming a more common event.  Spring is right around the corner and it seems to be the time of year when these sightings happen so who are these creatures and why are they wandering in and out of Illinois.  

It may not seem like spring is right around the corner, but it will be here before you know it! For those gardeners who are looking to make a difference this season, consider adding native plants to your gardens.  

Winter weather and safety

When considering adding solar panels to your home, one important step is to properly size a solar system to meet your home’s needs. We’ll cover 4 easy steps you can take yourself to estimate how large of a system you’ll need, along with a quick cost estimate – which will give you a starting estimate before you talk to a solar installer.

As the cold weather creeps in and winter approaches, we start preparing our house, our wardrobe, and our minds for the cold months to come. The bees, butterflies, squirrels, bats, and other Illinois wildlife have to prepare for the cold winter months ahead as well. Learn how our wildlife overwinters and what you can do to support those animals (without them making a winter home in your house!).  ...

The end of summer is approaching and that means fall allergies will be ramping up. How many of us blame the beautiful yellow blooming plants on the roadsides for our allergies? Goldenrod gets all the blame, but ragweed is the culprit! Learn how to identify both plants and information about why one is an allergen and the other is not – hint, it has to do with pollination!

Description: Fall is the time to work on controlling woody invasive plants. While often associated with timber areas, woody invasive plants can be a problem along fence rows, native prairies, and even home landscapes. Join us to explore why fall management provides better control.

A “sea” focused program in the Midwest? Join us and learn not only how Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant got its name, but also how it’s connecting people with science to strengthen and preserve ecosystems and communities in southern Lake Michigan and beyond.

It is April so could we be seeing wildlife babies soon? Are wildlife of the same species born at the same time in Illinois? (the point of this question, or one like it, is to point out the length of our state and that wildlife births could differ because of timing of “spring”) What are the first considerations a person should have when they find what seems to be a wild baby animal in need? What is...

Conserving water on your property is all reducing runoff and there are a lot of big and small ways you can do that. Learn ways you can do help improve water quality for yourself, your neighbors, and all Illinoisans.

Extension Educator Peggy Doty talks about how to select a good bird food seed mix, and selecting a bird feeder. She also corrects a couple of common misconceptions about feeding birds.

Bats have been at the top of news headlines with concerns about health and safety. Learn more about these creatures with Extension’s Energy and Environmental Stewardship Educator, Abigail Garofalo, and find out why bats are important to our ecosystems, how we can stay safe around bats, and how we can support these flying mammals.

Extension Educator Ashley Belle explains how you can help to protect our natural environment by properly disposing of unwanted medicines.

There have been scattered reports of toxic algae blooms in some small ponds in Illinois. Extension Educator Duane Friend talks about what steps can be taken to prevent these in the future and how to know if your algae is toxic.

Today’s podcast is on Wetlands, with Erin Garrett. Wetlands provide numerous invaluable ecosystem services, yet their value is often overlooked. Seen as breeding grounds for mosquitos or places to be drained, historical wetland habitat loss in Illinois is about 85%. Luckily, the value of wetlands has been recognized in recent decades and work has been done to protect them.

In this edition of Spotlight on Natural Resources. Extension Educator Jay Solomon explains how invasive plant species affect ecosystems in Illinois and what to do when you recognize those plants in your yard or on your property.