The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A cicada on a leaf.
What's the difference?: cicada vs. locust
7/10/2023We often call cicadas locusts, but they are not even closely related insects. Learn the differences between them and why we never see locusts in Illinois or anywhere else in the United States.
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A person standing in a forest with a camera.
Preserves We Love: O'Hara Woods, for its varied photo subjects
7/6/2023Marketing technical specialist Glenn Knoblock tells us why he loves spending time at O'Hara Woods Preserve.
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A woman standing in front of a large tree trunk.
Meet a Naturalist: Angela Rafac, a lifelong learner
6/30/2023Meet Angela Rafac, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
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A bat hanging from a tree.
Five need-to-know facts about bats
6/22/2023Think you know bats? There's probably plenty you don't know about these unique mammals.
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A person standing on a metal bridge with trees in the background.
Preserves We Love: Hickory Creek, for becoming immersed in nature
6/22/2023Program coordinator Suzy Lyttle tells us why she loves Hickory Creek Preserve.
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A Halloween pennant dragonfly perched atop vegetation.
Five things about those water-loving dragonflies
6/21/2023Spend any time near the water in summer and you're almost guaranteed to see a dragonfly. Take some time to learn more about these fast-flying insects.
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Birds splashing in the water in a birdbath.
How to take care of a birdbath to keep birds visiting all year
6/15/2023Once you decide to add a birdbath to your yard, you need to commit to maintaining it to make it safe and healthy for visiting birds.
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A man stands with a camera with a lake in the background.
Preserves We Love: Lake Renwick, because it always delivers
6/14/2023Digital communications manager Chad Merda tells us why he loves spending time at Lake Renwick Preserve.
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A differential grasshopper. (Photo by Anthony Schalk)
What's the difference?: grasshopper vs. katydid vs. cricket
6/13/2023Can you tell a cricket from a grasshopper? How about a grasshopper from a katydid? Learn what separates these related insects that are noted both for their jumping ability and the sounds they make.
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The bubbles from a spittlebug on a plant stem along a trail.
That's not spit: Spittlebug nymphs make their homes in frothy bubbles
6/9/2023Those globs of spit you see on plants aren't spit at all. They are the safe and comfortable homes of spittlebug nymphs.
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.