The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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Four raccoons climbing a tree
Things we love: Those rascally raccoons
4/16/2020Raccoons have a well-earned reputation for being trash bandits, but they deserve our respect too.
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Bloodroot in bloom on forest floor
Things we love: The aptly named bloodroot
4/13/2020Spring wildflowers are beautiful but fleeting. Keep your eyes trained to the ground when out for a walk to see if you can spot bloodroot, a fascinating ephemeral.
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View of lightning strike off in the distance
Myth buster: Lightning can strike the same place twice
4/8/2020Lightning can — and will — strike the same place twice, so always head indoors when thunder roars.
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A crappie fish being held in a hand
Things we love: Those fiercely protective crappies
4/7/2020Spring is spawning season for crappies, which offers an opportunity to get a good look at these fish.
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A blue-spotted salamander draped on top of a down log
Creature feature: The secretive blue-spotted salamander
4/6/2020Have you ever seen a blue-spotted salamander? Most people haven't, but they do live in Will County. Finding one is a matter of knowing where to look.
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A fox snake slithering on a trail
What's the difference?: Fox snake vs. eastern massasauga rattlesnake
4/4/2020Is that snake you saw a dangerous eastern massasauga rattlesnake or a nonvenomous fox snake? If you saw it in Will County, it was a fox snake. The massasauga does not live in Will County. In fact, no venomous snakes do.
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Yellow and green lichen on a log
Things we love: Those lovely lichens
4/2/2020Lichens are little known and not well understood, but they deserve our appreciation.
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Blue-spotted salamander on a log
Things we love: Those sneaky salamanders
3/27/2020When it comes to salamanders, a big part of the thrill is the hunt.
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Red-headed woodpecker perched on a branch
Nature curiosity: Why don't woodpeckers get brain damage?
3/23/2020Woodpeckers can peck up to 12,000 times a day! So how do they do it without hurting their brains?
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White-breasted nuthatch eating on a feeder
How to turn your yard into a haven for birds
3/20/2020Want to attract birds to your yard? You'll need to meet their basic needs: food, shelter and water.
Current Headlines
Be a Trailblazer turns outdoor fun into a family affair
Liz Lyons of New Lenox has turned the Forest Preserve District’s Be a Trailblazer challenge into a fun-filled family tradition. From dancing in the rain to spotting tiny critters on the trail, challenge missions have become cherished memories.
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.