Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

November 7, 2019

DuPage Forest Police Get an Eye in the Sky

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

DuPage Forest Preserve Police are adding a thermal-imaging drone to the police force to help improve response and recovery time in the Forest Preserve District’s more than 60...

October 28, 2019

Garden Blooms at Mayslake from Worker's Creativity

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Mayslake Peabody Estate is now home to a garden that blooms year-round, thanks to creativity, recycling and automotive paint.

October 17, 2019

Scientists Search for Clues to Grassland Bird Habitats

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

More than a dozen ecologists from local conservation agencies toured the 1,800-acre Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville recently to explore and learn more about the...

September 13, 2019

A Model of a Thriving 1920s Poultry Operation

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Millionaire coal baron Francis Stuyvesant Peabody is well known for his Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, but few know that he also owned a farm on the sprawling grounds of...

September 6, 2019

Blanding's Hatchlings Raised by Shedd Aquarium Released in DuPage Preserves

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Like proud new parents, staff from the Shedd Aquarium released 23 Blanding’s turtle hatchlings in DuPage forest preserves this week.

August 12, 2019

Feeding Habits of Daring Dragonflies

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Dragonflies – while the origin of their name is a mystery, it is an appropriate description of these voracious predators. Both the aquatic nymphs and the flying adults are some of...

August 5, 2019

Restoring More of the Great Prairie

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The 358-acre West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve in West Chicago is one of northeastern Illinois’ premier natural areas, containing more than 600 species of native plants and...

July 30, 2019

Unexpected Garden Delights

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

You expect to encounter native plants and wildlife when you visit DuPage forest preserves, but you don’t expect to find amazing gardens abloom in gorgeous flowers.

July 1, 2019

A Fish Tale to Remember

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

By David KoldoffI’m a fisherman and I’m not lying when I tell you: There’s a 42-inch northern pike lurking in Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville!

June 18, 2019

If Trees Could Talk

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Think of your favorite wildlife — white-tailed deer, woodpeckers, white-footed mice, nuthatches, owls, squirrels. In one way or another they all depend on oak trees for food or...

May 8, 2019

Special Needs Individuals Enjoy Outdoor Adventure at St. James Farm

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

More than 600 special needs individuals ages 3 to 30 connected to nature through a variety of fun activities at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Special Needs...

May 8, 2019

District Honors Men Who Saved Drowning Man at Silver Lake

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Ramon Garchitorena is able to fish another day thanks to the heroic efforts of three other anglers on Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.

May 7, 2019

Willowbrook Baby Season: Eastern Cottontails

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Spring is in full swing here at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn! Animals become much more active this time of year, so we tend to see a lot more animals brought to our...

April 24, 2019

Spring Woodland Wildflower Guide

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Of all the seasonal blooms, spring wildflowers seem to capture our hearts and attention the most, likely because they’re the first we see after months of drab landscapes. Most...

March 8, 2019

Early Spring Plant Arrivals

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Just a few native woodland wildflowers emerge in March: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) are among them.

January 23, 2019

Sowing Seeds in the Snow

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

For local gardeners, winter’s a time to take stock of what did well during the previous year and to look forward to the coming crop of plant catalogs in the mail. But in DuPage...

December 12, 2018

Feathered Friends Feel the Freeze: How to Help Birds Survive Winter

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Although the ground is cold (and possibly covered in snow), winter doesn’t mean hibernation and hiding for all wild animals, especially for some of the more common creatures...

November 13, 2018

Let's Talk Turkey: Fun Tidbits About This Popular Bird

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

For a lot of people, it’s turkey time. There are hand turkeys, turkey trots, turkey bowls and even tofu turkey with all the trimmings. If you hike through the woods at Herrick Lake

October 25, 2018

Fall Faves From the Field

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Cooler temperatures, fewer bugs and amazing colors make this time of year perfect for outdoor outings. An informal survey of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County employees —...

October 24, 2018

Saving the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Patience is a virtue, especially if you’re trying to save the federally threatened eastern prairie fringed orchid.