The Buzz

All Buzz Articles

  • The green glow of the northern lights in the night sky.

    Nature curiosity: What are the northern lights?

    11/17/2023

    The northern lights are always happening, but you have to be at the right place at the right time to view them.

    Read more
  • Two people walking a dog along a trail.

    Need a good reason to take a hike? Here are four

    11/16/2023

    Looking for a reason to it the trails and stretch your legs on a hike? Here are a few.

    Read more
  • Side-by-side photos of a long-eared owl and a short-eared owl perched atop tree stumps.

    What's the difference: long-eared owl vs. short-eared owl

    11/13/2023

    Their so-called ears aren't the only difference between short-eared owls and long-eared owls.

    Read more
  • A red fox standing in a forest with the ground covered by fallen leaves.

    Nature curiosity: Why don't humans have tails?

    11/3/2023

    Being tailless is a rare trait among mammals, but us humans aren't quite alone. 

    Read more
  • A bison in a prairie.

    Five fun facts about our national mammal, the American bison

    11/2/2023

    What you don’t know about these scraggly bearded giants might surprise you.

    Read more
  • A woman poses in a forest.

    Meet a Naturalist: Alexis Lyons, helping people connect to nature

    11/1/2023

    Meet Alexis Lyons, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. 

    Read more
  • A ladybug on a green leaf.

    Myth buster: Can you tell a ladybug's age by its spots? In a word, no

    10/27/2023

    What can a ladybug's spots tell us? Not much, although in some cases you may be able to determine the species from its spot pattern.

    Read more
  • A male wood duck standing on a tree branch.

    Five fast facts about ornate wood ducks

    10/24/2023

    It should come as no surprise that wood ducks love trees, but that's not all that is unique about them.

    Read more
  • An oak tree with the sun shining through its leaf-filled branches.

    Mighty oak trees have a long and storied history

    10/13/2023

    All trees provide us benefits, but oak trees are particularly vital and important because of how much life they support.

    Read more
  • A white-breasted nuthatch on a bird feeder.

    Follow these tips to winterize your yard for wildlife

    10/12/2023

    Want to see wildlife in your yard all winter long? The key is to make it a welcoming place for them to visit. 

    Read more

Current Headlines

New all-terrain wheelchair available for public use at Four Rivers

4/16/2024

An adaptive all-terrain wheelchair is now available for public use at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. The GRIT Freedom Chair – Spartan Model can be used by people of all ages and abilities. 

Read more

Bald eagle nesting update: We have confirmed six eaglets in three nests

4/15/2024

The bald eagle population has been booming in Will County in recent years, and we're monitoring four active nests. 

Read more