The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A Halloween pennant dragonfly perched atop a hoary vervain plant.
Battling mosquitoes in your yard? Attract dragonflies
6/28/2024Dragonflies can eat dozens of mosquitoes a day, so attracting them to your yard might help make your time outside more enjoyable.
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A garter snake with its tongue sticking out.
Quiz: What's your garter snake IQ?
6/27/2024Test your knowledge with this 10-question quiz.
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A person standing next to a large tree trunk in a forest.
Meet a Naturalist: Brittany Schaller, at home in the outdoors
6/26/2024Brittany Schaller is about as outdoorsy as it gets. She camps, she hikes, she fishes, and it’s been like that for as long as she can remember.
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A bullfrog with its head sticking out of the water.
Quiz: Test your knowledge on bullfrog basics
6/25/2024Find out by answering these 10 questions.
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A rose-breasted grosbeak perched on a branch with a seed on its mouth.
The rose-breasted grosbeak: A pretty bird with a pretty song
6/24/2024With their recognizable namesake plumage, rose-breasted grosbeaks are a welcome sight. Learn what else makes these birds special.
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A snapping turtle laying on a log above the water with its shell covered in duckweed and other vegetation.
Quiz: Are you savvy about snapping turtles?
6/21/2024Find out by answering these 10 questions.
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A side-by-side comparison of a common grackle and a European starling with both birds perched on tree branches.
What's the difference?: Grackle vs. starling
6/18/2024Can you tell the difference between a grackle and a starling? Which is larger? Which gets white polka dots in the winter? Here is your chance to find out.
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A blue jay splashing in a bird bath.
Help wildlife beat the heat by leaving water out for them
6/17/2024What are you doing to beat the heat this summer? If you can, add leaving water out for wildlife to your list.
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An opossum atop a wooden fence.
Quiz: Are you an expert on opossums?
6/8/2024Find out by answering these 10 questions.
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An Asian longhorned tick on a leaf.
New tick sighting in Illinois a reminder to be vigilant
6/7/2024An invasive tick called the Asian longhorned tick has been discovered for the first time in Illinois.
Current Headlines
Two Forest Preserve interpreters win national awards
Forest Preserve program coordinators Jessica McQuown and Heather Van Zyl both received Distinguished Frontline Interpreter awards recently from the National Association for Interpretation.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center reopens with oak-tastic vibes and family fun
More than 1,400 people attended the grand reopening celebration for the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook on May 3. The site was closed for 15 months for a $2 million makeover.