The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A red fox standing in a forest with the ground covered by fallen leaves.
Nature curiosity: Why don't humans have tails?
11/3/2023Being tailless is a rare trait among mammals, but us humans aren't quite alone.
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A bison in a prairie.
Five fun facts about our national mammal, the American bison
11/2/2023What you don’t know about these scraggly bearded giants might surprise you.
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A woman poses in a forest.
Meet a Naturalist: Alexis Lyons, helping people connect to nature
11/1/2023Meet Alexis Lyons, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
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A ladybug on a green leaf.
Myth buster: Can you tell a ladybug's age by its spots? In a word, no
10/27/2023What can a ladybug's spots tell us? Not much, although in some cases you may be able to determine the species from its spot pattern.
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A male wood duck standing on a tree branch.
Five fast facts about ornate wood ducks
10/24/2023It should come as no surprise that wood ducks love trees, but that's not all that is unique about them.
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An oak tree with the sun shining through its leaf-filled branches.
Mighty oak trees have a long and storied history
10/13/2023All trees provide us benefits, but oak trees are particularly vital and important because of how much life they support.
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A coyote is seen on the left and a grey wolf on the right.
What's the difference?: Coyote vs. wolf
10/5/2023While coyotes are a common sight in Illinois, wolves are seen only very rarely, having been extirpated since the 1800s. In areas where both coyotes and wolves live, however, it can be tricky to tell them apart without knowing the key differences.
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A person standing on a wooden bridge over water.
Meet a Naturalist: Jenna Krukowski, always curious about the past
9/27/2023Meet Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache Museum.
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A green praying mantis on a sidewalk.
Five fast facts about easy-to-miss praying mantises
9/20/2023Praying mantises are among the largest insects we see, but that doesn't mean they are easy to find. Learn more about these insects that stand out at blending in.
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A pink common milkweed bloom.
When a weed is something more: Milkweed vital for many species
9/18/2023Have you heard the buzz about monarchs and milkweed? Monarchs are far from the only animals that rely on milkweed.
Current Headlines
Be a Trailblazer turns outdoor fun into a family affair
Liz Lyons of New Lenox has turned the Forest Preserve District’s Be a Trailblazer challenge into a fun-filled family tradition. From dancing in the rain to spotting tiny critters on the trail, challenge missions have become cherished memories.
Wild Science: Rare mussel search in Will County aids DuPage restocking effort
Forest preserve staff from Will and DuPage counties recently searched a Will County creek for rare mussels to support a native species restoration project. The collaboration could help reintroduce the ellipse mussel to DuPage waterways, where it has disappeared.