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Division of Education 2024 State Fair

The theme the IDNR Division of Education chose for the 2024 Illinois State Fair was Illinois Endangered and Threatened Species. On this page and through various links, you will find the information presented in the tent during the fair.

Highlighted Species

Mammals
Franklin's ground squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii) [Illinois threatened]
gray bat (Myotis grisescens) [state and federally endangered]
Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) [state endangered]

Birds
greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) [state endangered]
least tern (Sternula antillarum) [state and federally threatened]
northern harrier (Circus hudsonius) [state endangered]
piping plover (Charadrius melodus) [state and federally endangered]

Reptiles
Snakes
eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) [state endangered and federally threatened]
Great Plains ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi) [state endangered]

Turtles
Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) [state endangered]

Amphibians
Frogs and Toads
Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris illinoensis) [state threatened]

Salamanders
spotted dusky salamander (Desmognathus conanti) [state endangered]

Fishes
lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) [state endangered]
redspotted sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) [state threatened]

Invertebrates
Insects
Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) [state and federally endangered]
rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) [state and federally endangered]

Mussels
orangefoot pimpleback (Plethobasus cooperianus) [state and federally endangered]

Plants
Mead’s milkweed (Asclepias meadii) [state endangered]
royal catchfly (Silene regia) [state endangered]
showy lady’s-slipper orchid (Cypripedium reginae) [state endangered]