INFO

Dan Skinner, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Forest Wildlife Program Manager and LMG Board member, will speak on the Illinois state animal, the white-tailed deer, a now-common sight for residents across the Prairie State. A look back at the last 100 years shows this iconic species was once nearly eliminated from the landscape. At the turn of the 20th Century, deer populations in Illinois had been devastated by market hunting and habitat changes. Subsequent deer reintroductions, changes in laws and regulations, scientific research, and hunting programs have resulted in deer populations that can now be found in all 102 counties in the state. This presentation will cover the history of white-tailed deer in Illinois, basic deer biology and life history, and discuss current management of white-tailed deer, including contemporary challenges posed by Chronic Wasting Disease. Skinner will also touch upon the piebald deer recently seen at the Garden. This program is free and open to the public.