September 3, 2026
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...
DuPage Forest Blog
Read the latest blog story from the Forest Preserve District, and connect to nature in DuPage.
Wildlife
August 11, 2026
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...
June 18, 2026
Fireflies are a Summer Delight
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
The twilight twinkles of fireflies, or lightning bugs, is one of the sure signs of summer. Most of us have fond memories of spending warm summer nights chasing them. Fireflies are...
April 27, 2026
DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center Offers Extraordinary Visitor Experiences
DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center offers a behind-the-scenes look at real-time wildlife rehabilitation. Viewing windows allow visitors to watch exams, surgeries, and, during...
February 25, 2026
Discovering New Species With the Volunteer Fungus Monitoring Program
Fungi grow in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be found under logs, on trees, or pretty much right out in the open. Though ubiquitous, fungi are some of the least studied...
February 11, 2026
Long-term couples know some of the biggest relationship stressors can be found in the day-to-day activities of life. Checking off items on the to-do list can feel overwhelming and...
July 28, 2025
How to Protect Yourself from Ticks this Summer
We need to talk. It’s going to be awkward, but it’s best for everyone if we just put it out there: ticks are all around you.
July 21, 2025
Gray catbirds live up to their name.
When one is caught — even safely by a trained professional — it will squirm, trilling and chirping in a way that’s only a stone’s throw from a...
August 8, 2022
Honeybees are arguably the most well-known pollinator, but did you know that honeybees are not even native to North America? Apis mellifera, the domesticated European honey bee,...
July 26, 2022
The next time you hit the trails at a DuPage forest preserve, keep an eye out for the North American millipede, Narceus americanus, also called the “iron worm” for its armored...
July 6, 2022
Celebrate the Sounds of Summer
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
The warm, lazy days of summer are a great time to enjoy the sounds of nature in the preserves, and research shows that pleasant natural sounds are good for your health. They help...
April 6, 2022
Bald Eagle Released After Treatment at Willowbrook
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
A juvenile bald eagle flew to freedom recently after being treated for lead poisoning at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
March 30, 2022
Great Horned Owlet Reunited with Family
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
A great horned owlet was reunited with its family thanks to DuPage Forest Preserve District forestry workers and Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
March 17, 2022
Snowy Owl Soars to Freedom After Treatment at Willowbrook
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
An injured snowy owl soared to freedom this week after being treated for rodenticide poisoning at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
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
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
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
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 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.
October 5, 2021
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,...