Forest Preserves of Cook County 2022 Winter Brochure

“If we are restoring an area, and the population of wildlife is increasing, that tells us our land management efforts are having the desired effect,” says Rebecca Collings, senior ecologist for the Forest Preserves. “If our wildlife biologists are doing health workups on more coyote pups or banding more young of the year birds, that indicates these species are having reproductive success—these animals are choosing our healthy habitats and finding not only can they survive here, but thrive.” The information gathered also helps researchers learn more about how animals and humans interact. Since 1988, our wildlife division has collected wildlife blood samples, making us one of the oldest and largest contributors of data on zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans) to the U.S. Department of Human Health’s Centers for Disease Control. Other local, regional, and national wildlife research collaborators include Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Public Health, Brookfield Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, USDI National Park Service, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, The Ohio State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, as well as several other universities to provide hands-on experience to college students. 36