The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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Bikers ride along a paved trail.
The trails are for everyone, so mind your manners out there
4/8/2022Read moreThe trails can be crowded on nice days, so make sure you're being a good neighbor by practicing proper trail etiquette.
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A Canada goose and goslings in the water.
How to stay safe around feisty geese during nesting season
4/6/2022Read moreIt's nesting season for Canada geese, so don't be surprised if they seem a little more feisty and aggressive than usual. If you happen come face to face with one, don't turn your back and run.
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The white flowers on a Bradford pear tree.
The stinky scourge of suburbia: Bradford pear trees
4/5/2022Read moreThat fetid smell in the air may be coming from your own yard. Bradford pear trees are in full bloom, revealing beautiful white blooms but also emitting a stench that's similar to that of rotting fish.
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A blue racer on the ground.
Amazing find: Rare blue racer caught on camera
4/4/2022Read moreIn another case of you never know what you'll find when out in the preserves, District staff spotted a pretty cool creature on Friday in the form of a blue racer within the 1,200-acre Kankakee Sands preservation system.
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A great egret wading and leaning into the water.
Five things about those graceful great egrets
4/1/2022Read moreOur tallest birds are among our most striking and elegant, and the great egret certainly fits into this group of regal birds.
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A spongy moth caterpillar on a leaf.
What you need to know about invasive and destructive spongy moths
3/22/2022Read moreNot all moths and butterflies should be treasured. Some, like the spongy moth, are invasive and are harming local habitats.
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A monarch on a wildflower.
Monarch population plummeting, and a known parasite may be killing millions a year, study finds
3/21/2022Read moreMonarch populations have plummeted by more than 80% over the past two decades, and a known pathogenic parasite may be contributing to the devastating decline more than previously thought.
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Two pileated woodpeckers on the ground.
What's the difference?: Male vs. female pileated woodpecker
3/19/2022Read moreMale and female pileated woodpeckers look similar, but they are not identical. If you look closely at the coloring on their heads and faces, you can tell the difference.
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A rat on the ground.
Using rat poison to control rodent infestations can have devastating effects on other wildlife
3/17/2022Read moreEverything in nature is connected, so when you use rodenticides to control rodent infestations in and around your home the effects may be more far reaching than you intended.
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Two Canada geese in the grass in a defensive posture.
Five feisty facts about Canada geese
3/8/2022Read moreGet the lowdown on Canada geese, one of our most common and widespread birds.
Current Headlines
Everyone is welcome at Four Rivers for All Abilities on July 24
Enjoy an outing for people of all abilities at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center during Four Rivers for All Abilities on July 24. Take part in hands-on activities, tour the building and enjoy being in nature as a family, group or individual.
Lake Chaminwood loop trail section closed for path connection, fishing pier project
A portion of the Lake Chaminwood loop trail in Channahon is closed for a Forest Preserve District path connection and fishing pier project.