The Office of the State Biologist communicates information and provides expert advice to the residents of Illinois and to our legislators and policymakers on issues related to nature, ecology, and conservation. This role was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 2008.
State Biologist Michael Dreslik
Michael Dreslik, Ph.D., serves as the State Biologist. Dreslik’s research generates critical understanding necessary for guiding conservation decisions. With a focus on amphibians and reptiles, particularly chelonians and pit vipers, he is studying some of the most imperiled vertebrate groups in Illinois and around the world. He has led major studies on ornate box turtles, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, spotted turtles, and Blanding’s turtles that were directly tied to species recovery efforts, mitigating the impact of infrastructure development, and agency planning in Illinois and across the U.S.
Dreslik’s career at INHS began in 1997 while pursuing his doctorate in natural resource ecology and conservation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His career has been built on a dedication to field-based research, science for the public good, and the INHS mission.
Contact: StateBiologist@illinois.edu