In the early days of the VCCD, it was very exciting to see a white-tailed deer. Now, it is very unusual not to spot one once a day at the county parks. Ever since the government’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), wildlife has increased. The simple formula – increased habitat increases wildlife.
Forest Glen Preserve is listed as an Illinois Wildlife Viewing Area, but Kennekuk County Park and Lake
Vermilion County Park also offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The VCCD offers different habitat types such as mature forests, secondary successional forests, open fields, prairies, bottomland fields and forests, wetlands, lakes and rivers and fence rows.
There were two wildlife reintroduction’s into our county parks. The wild turkey was released at Kennekuk County Park and near Forest Glen Preserve in the mid 1980
‘s. They now abound and there is a spring hunting season at Kennekuk County Park. The river otter, an Illinois endangered species, was introduced to Lake Mingo in 1996 and 1997. A total of 30 otters were released and sightings are becoming more common. This is the largest release site in Illinois.
Listed below are some of the types of wildlife that can be seen at the three county parks. A complete listing of native Vermilion County mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles may be obtained by calling 217-662-2142.
13 Lined Ground Squirrel
Bald eagle
Badger
Beaver
Chipmunk
Coyote
Egret (American, cattle)
Fox Squirrel
Flying Squirrel
Frogs (bull, green, leopard, cricket, tree)
Gray Fox
Gray Squirrel
Great blue heron
Green heron
Hawks (red-tail, rough-legged, harrier, cooper’s, kestrel, red shouldered)
Long Tailed Weasel
Migratory birds
Mink
Muskrat
Opossum
Osprey
Owls (great horned, barred, screech, snowy)
Pileated woodpecker
Rabbit
Raccoon
Red Fox
River otter
Red-backed salamander & tiger salamander
Resident Songbirds
Skunk
Snakes; all non-venomous (fox, black rat, blue racer, garter, DeKay, hog-nose, prairie king, banded water)
Turkey
Turtles (box, snapping, painted, soft-shell, red-eared slider)
Waterfowl (Canada goose, snow goose, mallards, wood duck, teal, merganser, golden eye, pin-tail)
White-tailed deer
Wood Chuck (Ground Hog)