July 1, 2019
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!
DuPage Forest Blog
Read the latest blog story from the Forest Preserve District, and connect to nature in DuPage.
Nature (6)
June 24, 2019
Taking Time to Remember our Wildlife
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
When you join the Willowbrook Wildlife Center family of staff and volunteers, you sign on to the commitment and service that goes with providing animal care to injured and...
June 18, 2019
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...
June 13, 2019
Kids Catch Fun and Fish at Just for Kids Fishing Derby
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Approximately 309 young anglers participated in the 33rd annual Just for Kids Fishing Derby at Blackwell Forest Preserve’s Silver Lake on June 9.
June 12, 2019
Citizen Scientists Wanted to Help Track Water Levels at Four Preserve Lakes
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
We need your help! Our ecology staff is looking for citizen scientists to help track water levels at several DuPage forest preserve lakes as part of the international Lake...
June 4, 2019
Willowbrook Baby Season: Raccoons
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Raccoons have adapted well to living around us. They can have litters in the spring and fall, so it’s common to run across baby raccoons this time of year.
May 29, 2019
Enlisting Crayfish to Help the Hine's Emerald Dragonfly
Whenever we tell stories about nature, they can be very interesting but can get quite complex when you look at how many of the pieces are interconnected. This is what happens...
May 23, 2019
Protect Yourself from Ticks While Outdoors
We need to talk. It’s going to be awkward, it’s a subject we’d all like to avoid, but it’s best for everyone if we just put it out there: ticks are all around you.
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 30, 2019
Handling Spring Encounters with Nesting Geese
It’s that time of year when encounters escalate between people and aggressive Canada geese trying to protect their nests and families. But there are some simple ways for both to...
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...
April 5, 2019
Forestry Worker Makes Special Delivery
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Sometimes it takes a village to help raise a great horned owl, as was the case when Forest Preserve District employees and DuPage County residents recently helped reunite three...
April 2, 2019
Contain Your Love of Gardening
I know many folks who are interested in growing native plants but feel they can’t because they don’t have a yard or room in their yard to grow them.
March 25, 2019
Keep Kids Learning with Fun Summer Day Camps
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Help your child unplug from video games and connect to nature with our fun outdoor day camps for kids and teens.
March 20, 2019
Points to Ponder Before Raising Monarch Caterpillars
Full disclosure: I’ve always liked insects. As a child I found them intensely interesting and spent hours just watching them walk, feed and fly. As an adult I came to realize...
March 8, 2019
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.
March 4, 2019
The "Magic School Bus" Rolls into DuPage Forest Preserves
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Science and social-studies teachers from across DuPage County joined the Forest Preserve District’s “Teacher-Institute Day: Magic School Bus Tour” on March 1, which was hosted by...
February 25, 2019
It Takes Heart to Save a Blanding's Turtle
This past Valentine’s Day started out unexpectedly for some zookeepers at Wheaton Park District’s Cosley Zoo when they found a small Blanding’s turtle unconscious in one of the...