Ozark Koala Ecosystem Services

08/28/2026

Our amazing crew has had another few weeks of finding incredible native species while working hard to restore natural areas around Southern Illinois! We are so grateful for their work ethics and love for nature. 🦋🍄🌻

08/14/2026

Please consider donating to this amazing expansion project if you can and share for others to see! Clifftop is a wonderful organization that focuses on conservation, land stewardship, and supporting the local native flora and fauna! 💚🌸

07/31/2026

Check out these photos from another few weeks of amazing native finds from the crew!🌿🦋

07/17/2026

It is always so great to hear from happy customers!! OKES conducted a prescribed burn on this property in 2024 and again last year. The landowner sent us this message and pictures:

"Finally made it down to the property since you guys did the burn and wow!!!!! Rattlesnake Master, Coreopsis, Black Eyed Susan, Mountain Mint, Ironweed, False Sunflower, Milkweed…. My property is a butterfly mecca!!!! When I bought this land there was no color, no life, and now you can hear the bumble bees buzzing from 20 feet away. So many swallowtails and monarchs! You guys definitely helped create this and I’m so thankful. We will definitely want to burn again in the spring."

It might take a few years of managment but we love to see results like this. We are so thankful the landowners trusted us with their land stewardship.

For more information on the benefits of prescribed fires follow these links:
https://www.aldoleopold.org/blogs/benefits-of-prescribed-burns

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/midwest-fire/

https://smokeybear.com/benefits-of-fire

07/09/2026

The weather has been hot and humid recently but that hasn't stopped our incredible 'possums from working hard to treat invasive species while finding cool native species!🌿🕷️

Check out these finds from our amazing crew from the past few weeks.🌱🍄

06/26/2026

Now is a great time to find and treat invasive Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) before it has the chance to set seed. Stiltgrass is very aggressive and will easily outcompete native species while creating a dense monoculture. There are a few native lookalikes to be mindful of when identifying Stiltgrass, a key characteristic is the white/silver vein/stripe that runs down the middle of the leaves. Below are some pictures of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) taken in Southern Illinois recently as well as some previous year’s infestation spots.

For more information on Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) follow these links:
https://extension.illinois.edu/invasives/invasive-stiltgrass

https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/invasive-plants/japanese-stiltgrass-control

06/05/2026

Another few weeks of native species our team of 'possums found! 🦋🍄🌿

05/22/2026

Have we mentioned how lucky we are to have the best crew of 'possums? Not only do they work long hours treating invasive species and restoring natural areas but they also love nature and even on their days off find native species while enjoying the outdoors in Southern Illinois. Check out these recent finds from our amazing crew while working and in their free time!🌿🌻

05/04/2026

This is absolutely wonderful news, especially for this unique and sensitive area! 🌸🐝

Congratulations and a huge thank you to Clifftop, Illinois Audubon Society, and The Conservation Fund for making this happen!! The native plants and animals are going to thrive in this corridor of protected habitat!🍃🍄🌼

Land Acquisition News - Decades of visioning creates 2,300-acre corridor of protected habitat - https://mailchi.mp/illinoisaudubon/whiterock-10141064

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎💚💙

We have only one Earth and it should always be treated with the most respect and appreciation possible.

The OKES crew has been working hard to restore natural areas and while doing so found some beautiful snakes along the way!