DuPage Forest Blog

Seven Nutty Squirrel Facts

on 1/20/21 2:34 PM By | Abby Dean | 0 Comments | Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

Go nuts over squirrels on National Squirrel Appreciation Day! Held annually on Jan. 21 — in the middle of winter when food sources may be scarce — this unofficial holiday was started in 2001 by a wildlife rehabilitator named Christy Hargrove to recognize the role that squirrels play in the environment.

Mayslake Art Exhibit "Double Vision: Cooperative Art"

on 1/19/21 3:02 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Recreation Plants Take 5 Wildlife Nature Club Group native plant

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what about art? It too is subject to interpretation, as two artistic groups from Mayslake Peabody Estate prove in their collaborative virtual art exhibit titled “Double Vision: Cooperative Art.”

Engineer Devises System to Stop Zebra Mussel Spread

on 1/6/21 9:57 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Nature Nonnative Invasive

A longtime battle to keep invasive zebra mussels in the West Branch Forest Preserve’s Deep Quarry Lake in Bartlett from spreading to the adjacent West Branch DuPage River took an innovative twist thanks to a method devised by a Forest Preserve District civil engineer.

Start a New Chapter with Mayslake Book Club

on 12/15/20 11:17 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Recreation Wildlife Nature Club Group

Explore nature, art and history as it relates to the natural world with Mayslake's “Nature Art & Culture Peabody’s Pages Book Club Three-Part Discussion,” which starts its second year Jan. 8 (mornings) and Jan. 19 (evenings)!

Lessons From 2020

on 12/11/20 3:21 PM By | Andres Ortega | 0 Comments | Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

The events of 2020 have been a great lesson for many aspects of my life. At the top of the list, I have gained an even greater appreciation for the work I do to help the natural areas of DuPage County.

As the Seasons Change: A Soil Opera

on 12/2/20 8:15 AM By | Stephanie Touzalin | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Wildlife Nature native plant

Soil. Mud. Dirt. Earth. That stuff on the ground that’s always been there and always looks pretty much the same. Not too much happening down there, right? Wrong.

What Do Bees Do in the Winter?

on 11/24/20 10:36 AM By | Charlie Linnell and Duane Marski | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Nature

One of the more frequent questions we beekeepers are asked is “What do bees do in the winter?”

Six Hiking Essentials

on 11/17/20 10:39 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Nature

Whether you’re new to hiking or a regular walker on DuPage forest preserve’s 166 miles of trails, there are at least 6 essentials you should bring with you every time you head out on a hike.

Raccoon Gets a Second Chance at Life

on 10/30/20 9:46 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Nature Willowbrook

This year has been challenging for all of us, even our native wildlife. In early August, a young raccoon was found almost lifeless and covered in oil inside a restaurant grease trap.

Wolf Spider: Friend or Foe?

on 10/27/20 11:52 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Take 5 Wildlife Nature

Ranging in size from half an inch to over two inches, these large, hairy spiders may be the fuel of nightmares for some people.

Fall Color Finds

on 10/15/20 2:14 PM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Natural resources Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

When the sweaters come out and the kids are back at school (in person or otherwise), you know it’s time for another sure sign of the season: fall colors. You also know that you need go no farther than your nearest DuPage forest preserve to enjoy the show!

Stressed Out? We've Got Just the Thing

on 10/6/20 3:36 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Natural resources Health and wellness Recreation Plants Take 5 Wildlife Nature native plant

How has 2020 been for you? If you’re like most people, it’s been a bit stressful with the pandemic, working from home and e-learning.

On With the Show

on 10/1/20 10:15 AM By | Scott Kobal | 0 Comments | Natural resources Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

Now that fall’s officially here, we’re starting to see the first signs of color in our forest preserves. So it’s only natural that people want to know what to expect in the way of fall color displays.

Celebrate the Mighty Oak in OAKtober

on 9/29/20 9:00 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

It’s fall and that means trees will soon be showing their colors. Who can resist a stroll on a crisp fall afternoon to gaze at nature’s colorful changes?

It's for the Birds

on 9/24/20 8:36 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Recreation Take 5 Wildlife Nature

Do you like birds and wish you knew more about them? There are a few simple steps you can take to welcome birds in to your backyard and begin to identify them.

Relocating Fish to a New Spring Brook

on 9/14/20 11:50 AM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Conservation Nature

Restoration of Spring Brook as it flows through Blackwell Forest Preserve includes building a new stream channel and removing a dam to provide better habitat and a gentler slope to allow fish to swim upstream.

Bee Informed About Native Bees

on 9/9/20 1:16 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

Did you know Illinois is home to more than 500 species of native bees?

Colt Inspires Volunteer's Artwork

on 9/3/20 3:19 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Volunteer horse Danada Equestrian Center Friends of the Forest Preserve District donate

The birth of a newborn — a foal, that is —inspired Danada Equestrian Center volunteer Deb Yatka to pick up her pencils and begin to sketch — something she hasn’t done for many years.

Walking in the Rain

on 9/2/20 8:35 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Nature

Have you ever planned a hiking trip at a DuPage forest preserve, only to find out that the sunny nice day you were planning has turned into a grey, rainy day?

Blanding's Yearlings Released in DuPage Preserves

on 8/28/20 9:20 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation Nature donate

With perpetual smiles on their faces, Blanding’s turtle yearlings raised by DuPage Forest Preserve District partners were recently released in DuPage forest preserves.

Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves