WILDLIFE RESERVES
Learn More About Special Places Reserved for Wildlife
Wildlife in southern Illinois need places to rest, eat, and build families. The places featured below provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and many other animals. These reserves are not currently open to the public. (Click here to explore places open to the public.) In some cases, we are actively restoring habitat. Many of these places we plan to create public access in the future in a manner that respects wildlife habitat and carefully incorporates public use.
The majority of these places are owned by Heartlands Conservancy; and we’re also featuring reserves owned and managed by partner organizations. Some of these lands were donated, others were purchased, and all help strengthen our connection to nature at a time when that connection is more important than ever.
We invite you to learn more about these critical protected places, and look forward to creating more with people like you.
Brushy Lake
Explore Brushy Lake Madison County, IL | 400 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Metro East Sanitary District, and Madison County Our role: Given the importance of the American Bottom (i.e., the...
Chouteau Nature Reserve
Explore Chouteau Nature Reserve Chouteau Island - Madison County, IL | 22 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: Given that Chouteau Island is an important ecosystem in the Mississippi River and in the heart of the St. Louis region,...
French Village Mound Preserve
Explore French Village Mound Preserve St. Clair County, IL | 5 Acres Type: Natural Area and Cultural Site Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: Forests and Mississippian Culture sites are critical to the landscape of southern Illinois. So, HeartLands...
Grisley Woods
Explore GRISLEY WOODS LAND & WATER RESERVE Williamson County, IL | 108 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: Given the significance of this forest for threatened birds, HeartLands Conservancy received the donation of forest land in...
Gutierrez Family Forest
Explore gutierrez family forest Fayette County, IL | 15 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: Given the significance of the Kaskaskia River and surrounding lands, HeartLands Conservancy received the donation of forest land in 2025 from...
Hobson Wildlife Reserve
Explore Hobson Wildlife Reserve St. Clair County, IL | 1.5 acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: Forests are critical to the landscape of southern Illinois. So, HeartLands Conservancy preserved this property to protect woods and...
K. Scanlan Conservation Area
Explore Kathleen Scanlan Conservation Area Washington County, IL | 174 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: Given the significance of the Kaskaskia River lands, HeartLands Conservancy preserved this property in 2017 as part of an...
Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary
Explore KNOLL FAMILY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Madison County, IL | 40 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: With less than 1% of Illinois prairies remaining, HeartLands Conservancy acquired the 40 acres of rare sand prairie in 2023. We own...
Mill Creek Natural Area
Explore Mill Creek Natural Area Randolph County, IL | 115 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: State of Illinois - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Our role: Southern Randolph County includes significant and highly sensitive ecological lands. So, in 2012,...
Trout Hollow Hill Prairie
Explore Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Monroe County, IL | 15 Acres Type: Natural Area Owned by: HeartLands Conservancy Our role: With less than 1% of Illinois prairies remaining, HeartLands Conservancy acquired property in 2024. We own and manage this property for...