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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
With perpetual smiles on their faces, Blanding’s turtle yearlings raised by DuPage Forest Preserve District partners were recently released in DuPage forest preserves.
Many plants have amazing adaptations that protect them from being eaten or destroyed by other organisms. That’s good for them but can be bad for people who come in contact with them.
A barred owl injured after being struck by a vehicle was one of many birds released on a recent sunny day at McDowell Grove Forest Preserve after being treated at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
A red fox treated at Willowbrook Wildlife Center for mange regained his freedom after being released recently at McDowell Grove Forest Preserve in Naperville.
Many DuPage County birdwatchers participate in a “Birding Big Day,” where they try to observe as many species of birds as possible in one day within a determined geographical location.
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.
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?
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.