What percentage of wildlife habitat is found in Illinois forests?

• A. Seventy-five percent
• B. Sixty-one percent
• C. Forty percent
• D. Fifty percent

Answer: (A)

Understanding how wildlife habitat is distributed in a landscape highlights the powerful role forests play. Forests provide multiple layers of cover, diverse food sources, nesting sites, and reliable shelter across seasons, making them a primary refuge and resource base for many species. In Illinois, this combination of structure and resources means a large share of the state’s wildlife habitat is found in forested areas. The figure used in this context is that about three-quarters of wildlife habitat occurs within Illinois forests, underscoring why conserving and managing forested land is so crucial for maintaining biodiversity in the state. While other land types—prairies, wetlands, and urban areas—offer important habitats, they don’t typically match the breadth of habitat features forests provide for a wide range of species, which is why this higher percentage is emphasized.