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DuPage Forest Blog

Read the latest blog story from the Forest Preserve District, and connect to nature in DuPage.

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February 11, 2022

Eagle Reunited with Mate After Poisoning

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

An injured bald eagle has been reunited with its mate this week thanks to a concerned resident, a group of volunteers and Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.

February 7, 2022

Stayin' Alive: How Wildlife Survive Winter

Nate Hambel

Animals in northern Illinois must face the harsh reality of cold blustery winters that leave them vulnerable to exposure and starvation.

January 24, 2022

District's Freshwater Mussels Help 3 Waterways

Joe Limpers

Ecologists at the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Urban Stream Research Center successfully propagated and released 495 freshwater mussels in three different watersheds in 2021.

January 20, 2022

Cold Weather is for the Birds

Keriann Dubina

Each winter, DuPage County and northern Illinois receive two visitors from the north who use this area as their warmer wintering grounds. One may think that sounds crazy, calling...

January 12, 2022

Hidden History of the Blackwell Mammoth

Dave Andrusyk

It started like a normal day for Gary Jones, a heavy equipment operator for the DuPage Forest Preserve District.

January 7, 2022

Birds Take Wing Again Thanks to Willowbrook

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

A great horned owl, two red-tailed hawks and two Cooper’s hawks soared to freedom again this week after being treated for injuries at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.

January 3, 2022

New Program Introduces Kids to Nature

Jenny Kamm, Derek Gronlund, and Jennifer Rydzewski

Think back to your childhood. You may have had someone in your life who introduced you to the outdoors.

December 15, 2021

Join Our New Winter Adventure Series

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

As the lakes freeze and the ground turns white, we’ll be adding a flurry of outdoor fun to our winter program lineup!

December 10, 2021

Native Landscaping: Start Planning Now

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

It may be wintertime, but now is the time to start planning your garden for next year. It may not seem like it now, but spring will be here before you know it, making this a great...

December 2, 2021

Preserve Visitor Trends in Pandemic Times

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

A surge in visitors and use of DuPage forest preserves that started during the pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down.

November 23, 2021

The Hidden History of Ancient Artifacts

Keith McClow

People have lived in DuPage County for thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that some of the tools and objects they used are still being found in many DuPage forest preserves.

November 19, 2021

Snow Plowing and Trail Grooming in the Preserves

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

DuPage forest preserves are a magical sight to behold after a freshly fallen snow. We know many of you can’t wait to get out there to see the magnificent beauty, but sometimes...

October 26, 2021

Hidden History of Waterfall Glen's Lincoln Park Nursery

Dave Andrusyk

Many people visiting the city of Chicago spend time in Lincoln Park, but few know the connection that DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien...

October 22, 2021

Teen Transforms Container into Scenic Landscape

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Emelia Buckley likes painting the natural world because “it’s the most complex and simple concept on earth.” So she jumped at the chance to paint a nature scene on the biggest...

October 13, 2021

Carrying on the Legacy of the Heritage Shorthorn

Lisa Carpenter

Since acquiring its first Heritage Milking Shorthorn cow, Liberty, in 2018, Kline Creek Farm’s herd of Heritage Milking Shorthorn cattle has been growing. The farm now has four...

October 12, 2021

Nature's Tricks Are a Nature Lover's Treat

Stephanie Touzalin

Wildlife have long embodied the spirit of Halloween using tricks, treats, and costumes. These strategies are essential for wild animals to survive, find food, and attract mates.

October 6, 2021

Hidden History of the Steeplechase

Wayne Zaininger

What happens when you combine a love of horses with a passion for philanthropy? At St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville in the 1980s and 1990s, it resulted in an annual...

October 5, 2021

Halloween Happenings

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Looking for some “spooktacular” fun in October? Look no further than DuPage forest preserves!

From haunted hikes and wagon rides to pumpkin stories and rhymes for little ones, w...

October 1, 2021

Bosnian Students Visit Urban Stream Research Center

Glenn Perricone

A group of 17 Bosnian high school students recently took part in an aquatic ecology program at the Forest Preserve District’s Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest...

September 27, 2021

Celebrate OAKtober!

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

OAKtober is Illinois’ monthlong celebration of oak trees and the things that make them great. We love oaks here at the DuPage Forest Preserve District, so we’re thrilled to be a...

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