Current headlines
All news
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Coyote in field
Use common sense when encountering coyotes during pupping season
4/29/2021Read moreCoyote pupping season is underway, so it's important to take steps to prevent potential conflicts.
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Old metal dumped in a forest preserve
Destruction not allowed: Don’t tamper with nature or use preserves as dumping grounds
4/26/2021Read moreThe Forest Preserve District's General Use Ordinance No. 124 prohibits the destruction of natural resources and vandalisms in the preserves. The rules are in place to protect Will County's last undisturbed natural areas and to create new habitats for native species and places of respite for visitors.
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Boardwalk at Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve
State transfers Thorn Creek Woods acreage to Forest Preserve
3/8/2021Read moreThe transfer of 466 acres in February gives the Forest Preserve ownership of around 780 acres of the 1,000-acre preserve located in eastern Will County.
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A great horned owl takes off from a tree
Mysterious, night-dwelling owls may just be the coolest birds around
12/31/2020Read moreThe Forest Preserve's Bob Bryerton tells us why owls are such fascinating creatures and why we just can't learn enough about these stealthy, winged beasts.
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Man holding camera along the DuPage River
Mike Nagrocki's 'Happy Place': A backyard escape teeming with wildlife
12/14/2020Read moreIn the five years he has lived across from the Hastert-Bechstein preserve, Nagrocki has been transformed into a wildlife photographer and a bird and wildlife watcher, something he says has helped him to escape everyday life and to appreciate and learn about nature to a higher degree.
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Pollinator hotel at Isle a la Cache
Pollinator hotels abuzz with guests thanks to Eagle Scout candidate
9/22/2020Read moreThree hotels built by 14-year-old Luke Lunde of Manhattan and his Scouting crew at Isle a la Cache preserve in Romeoville are attracting solitary bees that nest in cavities and are important pollinators.
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Cyclists on a bike trail at Whalon Lake
Don't Be a Jerk: Announcing 'on your left' as you pass slower trail traffic is the right thing to do
8/11/2020Read moreWith more and more bicyclists taking to the trails during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's imperative that everyone learn proper trail etiquette; announce your intent to pass, pass on the left and stay to the right when not passing.
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Dead bird hanging from a branch
Here We Go Again: Another Bird Killed by Fishing Line in the Preserves
7/21/2020Read moreIt's becoming an all too common occurrence that shouldn't happen at all in the preserves or elsewhere, seeing dead birds hanging from trees after getting tangled up in fishing line.
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Dead robin hanging from fishing line
Fishing line killed this robin at Monee Reservoir; it shouldn't have
5/20/2020Read moreIt's a scene that plays out too often in the preserves: animals found dead or injured because they became trapped in fishing line.
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Man on a trail with his bike
Earin Land’s 'Happy Place': Melting Away the Pounds and the Past on the Wauponsee
12/10/2019Read moreThe latest installment of the Forest Preserve District's "Happy Place" series features a retired Will County Sheriff's Police sergeant who made riding a bike on the Wauponsee Glacial Trail a key part of his retirement plan.
Events
S’more Summer
There's plenty of summer left, so join us to learn about all the fun that can be had.
Lake Renwick Migratory Bird Viewing
See the dazzling spectacle of nesting herons, egrets and cormorants at our weekly bird viewings at Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve.
The Buzz
What's the difference?: Honeybee vs. yellow jacket
The buzz of an insect in your ear can come from many different sources, from mosquitoes and flies to bees and wasps. When it's a bee or wasp buzzing by, two common culprits — honeybees and yellow jackets — can be cause for confusion.
Quiz: How much bee brainpower do you have?
Take this quiz to test your knowledge on these very important pollinators.
Quiz: Test your hummingbird braininess
While these bright and beautiful birds can be seen in our area, learn more about these miniature but mighty marvels.