Quail Forever and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have forged a new partnership to manage for pollinator habitat and critical wildlife corridors throughout the state. Titled the “Illinois Habitat Highway” and a first of its kind partnership in the Prairie State, local chapters of Quail Forever are working in conjunction with IDOT to make roadside habitat improvements that will benefit pheasants, quail, pollinators, and a host of other grassland wildlife.
“IDOT as an organization is working to find ways to better utilize our rights-of-way as habitat for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators. Partnering with Quail Forever has provided us with people around the state who have the hands-on experience and knowledge to complete these restoration projects,” stated Stephanie Dobbs, IDOT’s roadside maintenance manager.
Focusing specifically on pollinators with a myriad of benefits for other grassland wildlife, the Illinois Habitat Highway seeks to mimic the “Monarch Highway” established in six states along I-35 to leverage transportation rights-of-way as habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. The program is designed with Quail Forever diverse seed mixes which provide seasonal habitat for pollinating insects, particularly monarch butterflies. These sites will also provide critical nesting habitat while creating an insect-rich environment for pheasant and quail broods - an essential component of any upland habitat management plan.
“Illinois lies in the heart of the USFWS Monarch Butterfly National Conservation Priority Area. IDOT staff at the state and district levels, along with our dedicated local chapters, truly understand the importance of putting quality habitat on these vital rights-of-way corridors for monarchs and other wildlife,” stated Jason Bleich, senior Farm Bill wildlife biologist for Quail Forever in Illinois. “The excitement, enthusiasm, and outstanding teamwork this new partnership has generated for pollinator habitat in our state has been extraordinary.”
Established projects for the new venture can already be found on state highways Route 45 and Route 54 in Ford County, as well as select areas of Illinois Route 180 in Knox County. This year, local chapters anticipate completing further projects on I-57 in Ford County, I-55 in Livingston County, Route 34 in Kendall County, Route 1 in Iroquois County, Route 150 in Vermilion County, and Route 45 in Champaign County. Illinois Habitat Highway projects include converting brome and fescue roadsides to highly-diverse pollinator habitat, protecting remnant prairie roadsides from mowing and spraying, and creating connectivity to larger wildlife complexes. Here’s how it works:
- Quail Forever biologists provide technical assistance and project coordination
- IDOT provides chemical and herbicide applications (already built into their budget) for site prep
- Local Quail Forever chapters provide native seed for each project
- IDOT tractors utilize native seed drills provided by Quail Forever for planting
- Quail Forever and IDOT partnership signs are posted at each project site
About Quail Forever
Quail Forever is a leading organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation efforts for the United States’ native quail species. Since its creation in 2005, Quail Forever has conducted more than 8,500 habitat projects across the nation benefitting quail and other wildlife. Along with its affiliate organization Pheasants Forever, it has committed more than $708 million to improve more than 15.8 million acres of wildlife habitat. Quail Forever has more than 16,000 members and 165 local chapters across the country. Both Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever are part of Pheasants Forever, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@quailforever.org