The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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Two deer standing in a shallow stream.
Five things about those shy and inquisitive white-tailed deer
2/15/2022Here are five fun facts about our curious white-tailed deer.
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Four swallows in various habitats.
What's the difference?: How to identify some of our most common sparrows
2/14/2022Illinois is home to many sparrow species, and telling one from another is no easy task. Learn some of the key ID features among our most common sparrows.
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A wooden bridge spanning a ravine in winter.
What's the difference?: Blizzard vs. snowstorm
2/10/2022Snowstorms are often anticipated for days ahead of their arrival, but when does a snowstorm become a blizzard?
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A woolly bear caterpillar on wood.
Nature curiosity: Why don't woolly bear caterpillars freeze to death?
2/10/2022Woolly bear caterpillars can't predict how bad the winter weather will be, but they do have a pretty cool way to survive even the coldest of temperatures.
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A snow-covered scene with a bridge over a waterway.
Myth buster: Too cold to snow? Never
2/7/2022Too cold to snow? There's no such thing.
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A raccoon hanging on a bird feeder in a tree.
How to keep raccoons away from your bird feeders
2/4/2022Raccoons can be just as troublesome as squirrels around bird feeders, but there's a few tricks to keep them away.
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An aerial view of a frozen pond.
Nature curiosity: Why do frozen lakes creak or groan?
2/3/2022Have you ever heard an ice-covered lake creaking or groaning? It's normal in winter because of how temperature changes affect ice.
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An aerial view of a snow-covered bridge in a forest.
Nature curiosity: How do trees survive winter?
2/3/2022Even in a mild winter, trees have a lot to endure. How do they do it?
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A partially frozen stream in a snowy landscape.
Why is the world so quiet when it snows? The science behind the silence
1/31/2022It's not just a myth that the world seems more quiet after a snowfall. There's science behind the silence.
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A snow-covered trail bridge.
Why is snowfall so hard to accurately predict?
1/25/2022Those snow forecasts you see can often be much ado about nothing, because snow is notoriously hard to accurately forecast.
Current Headlines
Preserves, visitor centers to close for Christmas holiday
All forest preserve visitors centers will be closed after noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and all day on Wednesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Also, all preserves, including dog parks, will be closed on Dec. 25.
Mark your calendar for exciting 2025 events
The Forest Preserve District's 2025 calendar is chock full of exciting events and exhibitions ranging from Eagle Watch and a Smokey Bear art exhibition in January to Pelican Party and Woods Walk in the fall.