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A line of cyclists travel on a crushed limestone trail.
Pump your brakes on the trails to improve safety for all
4/29/2024Read moreUse proper trail etiquette to avoid injuries on Forest Preserve trails this year. The paths are multi-use, which means everyone has to share the space.
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A bald eagle and its eaglet in a nest.
Bald eagle nesting update: We have confirmed seven eaglets in four nests
4/23/2024Read moreThe bald eagle population has been booming in Will County in recent years, and we're monitoring four active nests.
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A man poses with a fish.
Bait your hook for some fishing derby fun at Hidden Lakes in 2024
4/22/2024Read moreAnglers will have fun competing in fishing derbies at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook this summer. The derbies will be for kids in June and all ages in September.
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A man stands on a trail in a forest preserve.
Healing With Nature: Combat veteran finds his ‘flow’ on forest preserve paths
4/22/2024Read moreThe next installment of the Healing With Nature series features Nick Wallace of Joliet. The combat veteran and former Marine sergeant picked up 70 bags of trash at a preserve recently. He said being in nature reduces his anxiety and provides pure enjoyment.
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An adaptive all-terrain wheelchair
New all-terrain wheelchair available for public use at Four Rivers
4/16/2024Read moreAn 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.
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A few of the Take It Outside challenge first-place winners.
800 participants get serious 'Winter Workout' in first seasonal Take It Outside Challenge
4/5/2024Read moreThe winter Take It Outside Challenge ended March 30 with more than 30 people completing all 110 missions to land in first place. The next seasonal challenge starts April 14.
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A cinnamon teal, with its brown body, is seen in the middle surrounded by blue-winged teals.
Rare bird alert: For first time ever, cinnamon teal spotted in Will County
4/2/2024Read moreA cinnamon teal has been spotted in Crete, which is the first time this bird has ever been reported in Will County.
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A large collection of fishing line waiting to be recycled.
Recycle your fishing line to avoid injuring or killing wildlife
3/17/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve District has 30 fishing line recycling containers installed at fishing locations for anglers to properly dispose of their broken or unneeded monofilament. The goal is to eliminate fishing line from the environment and to protect wildlife in the preserves.
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A white and brown dog walks on a path
Leash your dog in the preserves or risk being ticketed
3/8/2024Read moreOff-leash dogs are not allowed in the forest preserves other than inside the dog parks. If your dog is loose, you could be ticketed. Off-leash dogs scare other preserve visitors and their pets and the loose dogs could be harmed themselves or do damage to the environment.
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There are plenty of reasons to join our Take It Outside challenge. What's yours?
3/4/2024Read moreThe first seasonal challenge of this year's Take It Outside campaign has seen many new participants as well as returning participants from last year as the community of nature lovers continues to build up steam.
Events
Volunteer Morning: Kankakee Sands Preserve
Get some fresh air and exercise while helping to make a difference in your community by attending one or more of the Forest Preserve’s volunteer mornings.
Summer Send-off Paddle
Bid summer adieu with an evening paddle on the waters of Monee Reservoir.
The Buzz
Want to be dazzled by fall color? Fingers crossed for sunny days and cool nights
If you love fall color, hope the coming weeks bring us warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights.
It's a bird, or is it? Hummingbird moths mimic the birds in many ways
If it looks like a hummingbird and flies like a hummingbird, it might just be a hummingbird moth.