Monticello to host Mudpuppy Day Festival

Danny Connolly
·1 min read

MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — The village of Monticello is preparing to host the Mudpuppy Festival this weekend.

The festival will take place from 1-4 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Monarchs Event Center in Monticello. Food, games, crafts, and live animal exhibits will all be at the family-friendly event. More information on the event can be found on the Land Conservation Foundation’s website.

Photo of a mudpuppy. Courtesy of Nate Beccue of Allerton Park.
Photo of a mudpuppy. Courtesy of Nate Beccue of Allerton Park.

Larry Stoner, the mayor of Monticello, issued a proclamation for the city to recognize the day as Mudpuppy Festival.

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Mudpuppies are nocturnal salamanders that live in lakes, large creeks, and rivers, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They are known for their large, external gills and dark stripes that run through their eyes.

The animal is native to Illinois, mainly found in clear streams across the state and Lake Michigan. The mud puppy is listed as threatened on the state’s Threatened and Endangered Species List.

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