Sounds of Insects Night Hike
August 9, 2026 | 7:30 P.M TO 9:30 P.M
Venture out on the trail at Thorn Creek Woods at dusk listening for the chorus of nocturnal insects.
Headlines
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Five fun facts about the American bison, our national mammal
November 2, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeWhat you don’t know about these scraggly bearded giants might surprise you.
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Meet a Naturalist: Alexis Lyons, helping people connect to nature
November 1, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeMeet Alexis Lyons, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
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Myth buster: Can you tell a ladybug's age by its spots? In a word, no
October 27, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeWhat 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.
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Five fast facts about ornate wood ducks
October 24, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeIt should come as no surprise that wood ducks love trees, but that's not all that is unique about them.
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Explore nature's dark side
October 23, 2023These species might seem ripped from the script of the latest horror film, but they are real species living here and elsewhere in the world.
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In the spotlight: Isle a la Cache
October 16, 2023Visitors can learn about the area’s cultural and natural history, with a focus on what life was like in the region in the 1750s.
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Mighty oak trees have a long and storied history
October 13, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeAll trees provide us benefits, but oak trees are particularly vital and important because of how much life they support.
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Take a walk through a dolomite prairie
October 6, 2023Small pockets of northern Illinois remain home to an extraordinarily rare type of prairie.
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What's the difference?: Coyote vs. wolf
October 5, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeWhile coyotes are a common sight in Illinois, wolves are seen only very rarely, having been extirpated since the 1800s. In areas where both coyotes and wolves live, however, it can be tricky to tell them apart without knowing the key differences.
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Two new bicycle repair stations installed along Forest Preserve trails
October 2, 2023 | Preserves and trailsThe Forest Preserve District now has six bicycle repair stations along its trails thanks to funding by The Nature Foundation of Will County and the Joliet Bicycle Club.
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Meet a Naturalist: Jenna Krukowski, always curious about the past
September 27, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeMeet Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache Museum.
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Five fast facts about easy-to-miss praying mantises
September 20, 2023 | Nature and wildlifePraying mantises are among the largest insects we see, but that doesn't mean they are easy to find. Learn more about these insects that stand out at blending in.
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When a weed is something more: Milkweed vital for many species
September 18, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeHave you heard the buzz about monarchs and milkweed? Monarchs are far from the only animals that rely on milkweed.
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Preserves We Love: O'Hara Woods, for delivering nature's gifts
September 11, 2023 | Preserves and trailsInterpretive naturalist Sara Russell tells us why she loves O'Hara Woods Preserve.
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Hammel Woods: A preserve that always delivers
September 8, 2023Illinois is a state much more known for its open than dense forests, but if you look across northern Illinois, you’ll find pockets of forest that break up the wide open spaces. In Will County, Hammel Woods is one of many of these pockets of forests where trees dominate the landscape.
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Preserves We Love: Thorn Creek, for the endless discoveries
September 5, 2023 | Preserves and trailsInterpretive naturalist Brittany Schaller tells us why she loves Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve.
-
Five fun facts about the American bison, our national mammal
November 2, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeWhat you don’t know about these scraggly bearded giants might surprise you.
-
Meet a Naturalist: Alexis Lyons, helping people connect to nature
November 1, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeMeet Alexis Lyons, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
-
Myth buster: Can you tell a ladybug's age by its spots? In a word, no
October 27, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeWhat 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.
-
Five fast facts about ornate wood ducks
October 24, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeIt should come as no surprise that wood ducks love trees, but that's not all that is unique about them.
-
Explore nature's dark side
October 23, 2023These species might seem ripped from the script of the latest horror film, but they are real species living here and elsewhere in the world.
-
In the spotlight: Isle a la Cache
October 16, 2023Visitors can learn about the area’s cultural and natural history, with a focus on what life was like in the region in the 1750s.
-
Mighty oak trees have a long and storied history
October 13, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeAll trees provide us benefits, but oak trees are particularly vital and important because of how much life they support.
-
Take a walk through a dolomite prairie
October 6, 2023Small pockets of northern Illinois remain home to an extraordinarily rare type of prairie.
-
What's the difference?: Coyote vs. wolf
October 5, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeWhile coyotes are a common sight in Illinois, wolves are seen only very rarely, having been extirpated since the 1800s. In areas where both coyotes and wolves live, however, it can be tricky to tell them apart without knowing the key differences.
-
Two new bicycle repair stations installed along Forest Preserve trails
October 2, 2023 | Preserves and trailsThe Forest Preserve District now has six bicycle repair stations along its trails thanks to funding by The Nature Foundation of Will County and the Joliet Bicycle Club.
-
Meet a Naturalist: Jenna Krukowski, always curious about the past
September 27, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeMeet Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache Museum.
-
Five fast facts about easy-to-miss praying mantises
September 20, 2023 | Nature and wildlifePraying mantises are among the largest insects we see, but that doesn't mean they are easy to find. Learn more about these insects that stand out at blending in.
-
When a weed is something more: Milkweed vital for many species
September 18, 2023 | Nature and wildlifeHave you heard the buzz about monarchs and milkweed? Monarchs are far from the only animals that rely on milkweed.
-
Preserves We Love: O'Hara Woods, for delivering nature's gifts
September 11, 2023 | Preserves and trailsInterpretive naturalist Sara Russell tells us why she loves O'Hara Woods Preserve.
-
Hammel Woods: A preserve that always delivers
September 8, 2023Illinois is a state much more known for its open than dense forests, but if you look across northern Illinois, you’ll find pockets of forest that break up the wide open spaces. In Will County, Hammel Woods is one of many of these pockets of forests where trees dominate the landscape.
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Preserves We Love: Thorn Creek, for the endless discoveries
September 5, 2023 | Preserves and trailsInterpretive naturalist Brittany Schaller tells us why she loves Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve.
The Buzz
The monarchs you see at this time of year are special. Here's why
7/31/2026
The monarchs you see at this time of the year are special, part of a 'super generation' different than the three generations that preceded it.
Hummingbirds are already migrating, but it's not time to take down feeders yet
7/30/2026
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate in waves, and some have already departed. But we'll see the birds in Will County for weeks or even months, so keep filling your feeders.
Bees and wasps invading hummingbird feeders? Here's why — and how to fix it
7/23/2026
If you are seeing more bees than birds at your hummingbird feeders lately, you're not alone. Learn why we see them more at this time of year and how you might keep them away from your hummingbird feeders.