This week on Everyday Environment we chat with Rebekah Wallace out of the University of Georgia. Rebekah is the coordinator for EDDMapS, a platform used by the general public and professionals alike for invasive, pest, and biocontrol species reporting and distribution monitoring. For 20 years, this platform has worked with partners across the US and Canada to develop tools to help aggregate distribution data, educate the public on invasive species, document management efforts, anticipate spread, and more. Learn about the fascinating ways that this tool can help with invasive species management on the ground.

Resources

• EDDMapS
• Learn more about Erin's everyday observation: Right outside your window blog

Share your own Everyday Observation

Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.

Questions? We'd love to hear from you!
Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu

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Join us as we chat with Michelle about the invasive plant early detection efforts of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network. We take a special focus on the Public Gardens as Sentinels against Invasive Plants initiative, a program focused on sharing information and creating a network to detect potential invasive species.

Resources:

• MIPN Website
• Printed Resources from MIPN
• MIPN Webinars
• Early Detection Plant Species
• Report sightings of Invasive Plants
• PGSIP Data Dashboard
• PGSIP Plant Alerts

Share your own Everyday Observation

Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.

Questions? We'd love to hear from you!
Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu

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In this episode of Everyday Environment, hosts Erin and Amy sit down with Chris Evans to break down how invasive species are regulated in Illinois—and why it matters to you. Illinois recently added nine species to the Illinois Exotic Weed Act, making it illegal to buy, sell, or transport them. From the Exotic Weed Act to the Noxious Weed Law, these regulations are designed to slow the spread of invasive species by limiting movement, guiding management priorities, and protecting ecosystems and economies. Tune in to learn what’s changed, how the process works, and what it means for landowners and communities.

Resources

• IL Invasives website
• New invasive species regulated in 2025
• IL Invasive Species Council
• IL Exotic Weed Act

Share your own Everyday Observation

Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast.

Questions? We'd love to hear from you!
Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Check out our Blog
See the Everyday Environment Archives