The buzz
All Buzz Articles
-
Green heron perched on a branch
Creature feature: The clever green heron
5/18/2020Read moreThe green heron isn't as well known or as frequently seen as the great blue heron, but these birds are interesting in their own right.
-
Glass lizard moving across a stick on ground
Amazing find: Extremely rare glass lizard caught on camera in Will County
5/18/2020Read moreEvery now and then, you can get very lucky when out in the preserves and spot something truly amazing.
-
Red microarthropod on the ground
Things we love: Those teeny, tiny microarthropods
5/14/2020Read moreTiny but mighty microarthropods are tiny bugs that do a lot of good despite their small size.
-
Female wood ducks.
What's the difference?: Ducks vs. geese
5/12/2020Read moreMost people can identify a mallard duck and a Canada goose, but do you know the difference between ducks and geese?
-
Brown headed cowbird on a log
Clever or cruel? Brown-headed cowbirds make other birds do all the work of raising their young
5/8/2020Read moreBrown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, outsourcing incubation and newborn care entirely to other birds. This may not win them any mother-of-the-year awards, but it is the only way they know.
-
Cellar spider closeup
Things we love: Those human-friendly cellar spiders
5/7/2020Read moreCellar spiders love to live in human habitats, but they're beneficial to us to.
-
Killdeer with two babies underneath her.
Myth buster: Mother birds won't reject their babies if you touch them
5/6/2020Read moreA mother won't reject her babies if you touch them, but most young birds don't need your help.
-
Woman picking up dog poop while her dog watches
Dog poop vs. wildlife poop: Not all animal excrement is equal
5/4/2020Read moreWhen it comes to animal poop, it's not all the same. Dog poop can be harmful to the environment if left behind, but that's not true of wildlife waste. That's why it's important to always pick up after your dog, no matter where you are.
-
Woodchuck walking across grass
Things we love: Those layabout woodchucks
5/1/2020Read morePhotographing wildlife can be an adventure, but the woodchuck is an easy subject.
-
Person spraying pesticides on lawn
When it comes to our lawns, many of us are keeping up with the Joneses
4/28/2020Read moreThe need to have a perfect lawn has to do with peer pressure, according to a recent study. But doing so isn't really good for the environment.
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.