The buzz
All Buzz Articles
-
An oak tree with the sun shining through its leaf-filled branches.
Mighty oak trees have a long and storied history
10/13/2023Read moreAll trees provide us benefits, but oak trees are particularly vital and important because of how much life they support.
-
A coyote is seen on the left and a grey wolf on the right.
What's the difference?: Coyote vs. wolf
10/5/2023Read moreWhile 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.
-
A person standing on a wooden bridge over water.
Meet a Naturalist: Jenna Krukowski, always curious about the past
9/27/2023Read moreMeet Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache Museum.
-
A green praying mantis on a sidewalk.
Five fast facts about easy-to-miss praying mantises
9/20/2023Read morePraying 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.
-
A pink common milkweed bloom.
When a weed is something more: Milkweed vital for many species
9/18/2023Read moreHave you heard the buzz about monarchs and milkweed? Monarchs are far from the only animals that rely on milkweed.
-
A woman sits on a log in the woods.
Preserves We Love: O'Hara Woods, for delivering nature's gifts
9/11/2023Read moreInterpretive naturalist Sara Russell tells us why she loves O'Hara Woods Preserve.
-
A woman stands along a boardwalk.
Preserves We Love: Thorn Creek, for the endless discoveries
9/5/2023Read moreInterpretive naturalist Brittany Schaller tells us why she loves Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve.
-
A cricket on a leaf.
Myth buster: Can a cricket really tell you the temperature?
9/1/2023Read moreThere's no way you can actually rely on a cricket to tell you the temperature, right? Actually, this widely held myth is really true.
-
A green frog on the left and a bullfrog on the right.
What's the difference?: Green frog vs. bullfrog
8/31/2023Read moreCan you tell a bullfrog from a green frog? Here are a few clues to help tell these two similar frog species apart.
-
Feet in hiking boot walking along a natural surface trail.
Earbuds out for the latest fitness trend: Silent walking gaining traction
8/30/2023Read moreKeeping up with the latest fitness trends? Then put your earbuds away and enjoy the silence on your next walk.
Current Headlines
Joliet Junction Trail section to close in December for Interstate 80 work
A section of the Joliet Junction Trail is scheduled to be closed for several days in December due to an Interstate 80 improvement project. The trail will be closed from McDonough Street to Moen Avenue.
Healing With Nature: Crete man battling cancer finds health and hope on paths at Goodenow Grove
Tom Scott of Crete is giving thanks this year for the people in his life who pushed him to start walking at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve as he was recovering from cancer. The daily hikes have given him better health, hope for the future and a new appreciation of nature.