DuPage Forest Blog

Hidden History of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad

on 7/21/21 9:30 AM By | Wayne Zaininger and Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Imagine commuting to Chicago by train in the morning only to discover without warning that same afternoon that your Metra line had closed and would never operate again.

Mysterious Moths

on 7/7/21 10:32 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Conservation Nature

Moths sometimes seem like the forgotten cousins of butterflies. While butterflies may be some of the most well-known insects in the world, there are many more species of moths. In fact, there are "only" 17,500 known species of butterflies compared to almost 160,000 species of moths. Nearly 11,000 of those can be found in the United States. With moths as numerous as they are, why do they seem so mysterious? Let's explore.

Hidden History of Hidden Lake bridge

on 6/14/21 12:45 PM By | Keith McClow | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

On a breezy May afternoon, I stood on an old bridge that spans the East Branch DuPage River at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove, talking to people as they crossed the bridge.

Hidden History of Glacial Ridge

on 6/2/21 8:48 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Volunteer Conservation History

Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn is one of the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s most popular forest preserves.

Managing Harmful Algae Blooms

on 5/20/21 9:59 AM By | Dan Grigas | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Conservation Nature

Harmful blue-green algae blooms have become an all-too-common occurrence on some forest preserve lakes lately. Forest Preserve District officials are looking at ways to help prevent them and mitigate their harmful effects, including the recent installation of an aeration system at Herrick Lake, a frequent site of outbreaks.

More Love for Monarch Butterflies

on 5/10/21 10:32 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

The DuPage Forest Preserve District board of commissioners is pledging to support the Illinois Monarch Project, a public and private sector partnership whose goal is to add 150 million milkweed plants to the Illinois landscape by 2038.

The Hidden History of Fullersburg Woods

on 4/20/21 9:48 AM By | Abby Dean | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Take 5 Nature Group History

When you visit a DuPage forest preserve to connect with nature, you don’t often consider its history and how it came to be developed as a preserve.

Reminder Not to Harvest Plants in the Preserves

on 4/16/21 10:05 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Conservation Nature native plant

As more plants and mushrooms emerge in the spring, it’s a good time to remind visitors not to harvest things — especially wild leeks and mushrooms — from DuPage forest preserves.

Partnership Mussels Into Chicago River

on 4/9/21 8:35 AM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation

The DuPage Forest Preserve District recently embarked on a new and unique partnership with Urban Rivers, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago with a mission to transform city rivers into urban sanctuaries.

I Spy Early Spring Insects

on 3/31/21 8:23 AM By | Andres Ortega | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Nature

The warmer weather brings more people outside after a long, cold winter. But they’re not the only ones that emerge with the warmer temperatures.

Stressed Out? We've Got Just the Thing

on 3/25/21 10:06 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Natural resources Health and wellness Recreation Plants Take 5 Wildlife Nature native plant

Still recovering from 2020? If you’re like most people, the stress of the pandemic, working from home and e-learning has taken its toll.

The Hidden History of Winfield Mounds

on 3/17/21 2:19 PM By | Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Conservation History

With the passage of time, nature disguises the land’s cultural legacy, covering the marks of human impact and often protecting the past with brush and vegetation, but this can also leave a legacy susceptible to human neglect.

Soak in the Solar

on 3/10/21 3:43 PM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Conservation Golf Willowbrook Living green

As we celebrate International Solar Appreciation Day on Friday, March 12, let’s look at the many ways we benefit from the sun and how we can harness its energy to help create clean sustainable energy.

Willowbrook-Wildlife-Center-Donor-Sandy-Youngstrom-Supports-Wildlife

Owl's Story Tugs at Donor's Heartstrings

on 3/9/21 11:58 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Friends of the Forest Preserve District Willowbrook donor

Sandy Youngstrom of Naperville is a wildlife enthusiast who not only enjoys bringing birds, insects and mammals to her own backyard but also supporting wild animals in her neighborhood. That’s why she decided she could adopt a permanently disabled animal at Willowbrook Wildlife Center upon reading about the sponsorship opportunity in the Forest Preserve District’s Navigator e-newsletter. “I looked at all the animals and Andre just spoke to me,” said Youngstrom. “His story just touched my heart.”