DuPage Forest Blog

Smoothing the Way for Smooth Green Snakes

on 5/14/20 9:34 AM By | Dan Thompson | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation Nature

Meet the smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis), a brilliant green, relatively small non-venomous snake that we’d like to see more of in DuPage County.

Can't You Take Just One More? No, and Here's Why

on 5/8/20 10:30 AM By | Stephanie Touzalin | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

Every facility that cares for animals has to make tough decisions all the time: What type of animals should they treat? How many? Do they have the staff and skill to treat them? How should already limited resources be spread fairly among all the animals in need of help?

Best Wildlife Moms

on 5/4/20 2:33 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Conservation Nature

There are so many things that make moms special — they go the extra mile for their kids, know just what they need, and are fierce protectors of their wee ones.

Where the Native Plants Grow

on 4/30/20 8:43 AM By | Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Conservation Nature native plant Native Plant Sale

Planting native plants in our yards and gardens is gaining popularity for good reasons.

Best Native Shrubs for Your Yard

on 4/17/20 2:38 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Conservation Nature native plant Native Plant Sale

With winter slowly fading and signs of spring arriving daily, gardeners are getting the itch.

Slow Down on Spring Cleaning in Your Garden

on 4/9/20 9:23 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Conservation Nature native plant Native Plant Sale

With the recent warm weather and native plants starting to emerge from their winter slumber, folks may be eager to do some spring cleaning in their gardens.

When Waterfowl Run Afoul with Nests

on 4/1/20 4:08 PM By | Leigh Korreck | 0 Comments | Insider Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

Every spring and summer, Willowbrook Wildlife Center admits hundreds of orphaned young birds. We give as much care as is humanly possible, but the best parent for a bird is always a bird.

DuPage Forest Preserve District's Wonder Women

on 3/27/20 9:16 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’d like to tip our hat to the women who work at the DuPage Forest Preserve District.

Willowbrook Staff Reunite Owl Family

on 3/24/20 2:56 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

A great horned owlet was reunited with its family in a North Aurora tree after it fell out of its nest.

Restoring a Creek's Meander

on 3/18/20 4:19 PM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Natural resources Plants Wildlife Nature

For many years, Spring Brook — as it flows through Blackwell Forest Preserve — has been channelized. That is, water flowed within a straight, narrow channel, which led to erosion along the streambanks.

Turning to Nature in a Time of Turmoil

on 3/17/20 4:19 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Natural resources Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Conservation Nature

Many of us are staying in our homes as the COVID-19 global pandemic has led to quarantines, closures and social distancing.

Women's Vote Helped Win the Case for DuPage Forest Preserves

on 3/9/20 3:12 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Women played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County nearly 105 years ago.

Donors' Gift Brings Horses to Danada Equestrian Center

on 3/5/20 12:15 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations horse Danada Equestrian Center Friends of the Forest Preserve District donate

Danada Equestrian Center recently welcomed two new additions to the herd, Percheron-quarter horses named Daisy (age 6) and Babe (age 5). The two mares’ arrival to the center were made possible by a generous $10,000 gift from Danada volunteer Jan Yong and husband Jack to the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, a 501(c)(3).

Spring is in the Air

on 2/27/20 3:43 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Wildlife Conservation Nature

March ushers in the official start of spring, and soon you’ll begin seeing signs of it everywhere. Once the snow melts, you may even be able to smell it as the ground starts to thaw to welcome early blooming wildflowers like spring beauties.

Kline Creek Farm Welcomes Cotswold Sheep into Fold

on 2/26/20 9:02 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

The first Cotswold longwool lambs are being born at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago, after the 1890s living history farm welcomed five ewes and a ram into its fold last fall.

Get Healthy With Forest Therapy

on 2/20/20 10:19 AM By | Abby Dean | 0 Comments | Insider Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Conservation Nature

Looking for new ways to improve wellness and promote relaxation this winter? Try forest therapy! Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, forest therapy involves taking in the atmosphere of the forest. Translated as "forest bath," shinrin-yoku does not refer to actual bathing. Instead of submerging in water, forest bathers soak up the atmosphere of the forest.

Have Coin, Will Travel

on 2/11/20 1:58 PM By | Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Group

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Rare Northern Goshawk Released from Willowbrook

on 2/3/20 2:45 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

A spirited juvenile northern goshawk eagerly regained its freedom Thursday after being nursed back to health at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.

We've Got the Cure for Cabin Fever

on 1/30/20 1:35 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Wildlife Conservation Nature

Are you done with this weather? Are you fed up with being cooped up? Are you keeping a mental tally of how many days it's been since you've seen the sun, or have you started a countdown calendar to spring? It sounds like you've got a classic case of cabin fever!

District Rolls Out New Electric Vehicles

on 1/23/20 2:19 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Conservation Nature

The DuPage Forest Preserve District is looking to add up to four more electric and hybrid vehicles to its award-winning fleet this year, after having much success with two electric vehicles added in 2019.

Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves