The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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Phragmites stand tall along a trail, with blue sky in the background.
More than meets the eye: Phragmites a threat to wetland habitats
6/7/2023The tall grasses that surround many of our wetland areas may seem like a pretty addition to the scenery, but in reality they are destroying these vital habitats.
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A fawn standing in tall vegetation with a fallen log behind it.
Myth buster: Fawns are born without a scent
6/5/2023It's not quite true that fawns are born with no scent. They do have very little scent when they are born, making it easier to tuck them away without being found by predators.
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A woman holds her young child while on a long wooden bridge.
Preserves We Love: Rock Run Rookery Preserve, for mother-son bonding time
6/1/2023Digital and print marketing specialist Katie McCollum tells us why she loves spending time at Rock Run Rookery Preserve.
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A woman poses for a photo on a trail while a runner passes by.
Preserves We Love: Rock Run, for bringing people and nature together
5/24/2023Digital marketing assistant Meghan McMahon tells us why she loves spending time at Rock Run Preserve.
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A bee on a person's finger.
Myth buster: Bees die when they sting you
5/19/2023You've probably heard that bees die when they sting you, but this isn't universally true. Most bee species don't even have stingers.
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A thunderstorm over an open field with lightning striking the ground.
Five things about those powerful, booming thunderstorms
5/18/2023The crack of lightning and rumble of thunder can create awe and fear, and here are five things you should know about these forces of nature.
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Two painted turtles on a log in a pond filled with duckweed and other vegetation.
What's the difference?: Habitat vs. ecosystem
5/15/2023We sometimes use the terms habitat and ecosystem interchangeably, but they are not one and the same.
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An Osage orange tree with several of the large fruits hanging from its branches.
A different kind of orange: Osage orange trees have long, storied history
5/5/2023Orange trees do grow in Illinois, but our native Osage orange trees are nothing like the citrus trees you're thinking of.
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Four balloons stuck in a tree.
Throwing a party? Skip the balloons to help save wildlife
5/4/2023Balloons can wreak havoc on wildlife and the environment if not used and disposed of properly, so think twice before including them in your party decor.
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An eastern bluebird perched on a bare tree branch.
Bluebirds are back from the brink thanks to human interventions
5/2/2023The eastern bluebird population was once in rapid decline because of a perfect storm of factors, but today their population has recovered well and these birds are a common sight once again.
Current Headlines
Music by land or sea? You choose at Surf-N-Turf Concert
Monee Reservoir will host its annual 'Surf-N-Turf Concert' from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Visitors can listen to the music from the lake or the lawn. Kayak and canoe rentals will be available, and food trucks will be serving tasty treats.
Hybrid turtle 'Theodorable' serves as warning: Don’t dump pets in preserves
A hybrid box turtle was removed from a Will County preserve to protect a threatened species. Now living at Isle a la Cache Museum, he serves as an ambassador to educate the public about the dangers of releasing pet turtles into the wild.