The 37-acre preserve contains a one-acre portion of the site was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve and is the final resting place of the early settlers of Wheatland Township.
Tucked away at the southern tip of Hammel Woods, near the small dam across the DuPage River, is Grinton Grove, the site that William Grinton built a flour mill in 1845. The small settlement that arose around it was the origin of today’s Village of Shorewood.
One of the benefits of preserving open space is the amount of water the preserves hold, which helps sustain wildlife habitats, reduces flooding and replenishes underground aquifers.
From cactus to carnivorous plants, there are some surprises in the preserves
Is that big, buzzing insect a dragonfly or a damselfly? Learn how to tell the difference.
Osprey or eagle? Learn what sets the osprey apart from other birds of prey.
Here’s a closer look at some of the plants that can cause you harm and are best avoided.
They took to it like a duck to water, naturally.
The District has repurposed abandoned rail lines to recreational trails
Once extinct in Illinois, wild turkeys can now be found in every county.
The slither. They climb. They freak people out. But don't worry, the locals are harmless.
Bald eagles are some of most beautiful birds you'll see — and thankfully still can — now that they've bounced back after conservation efforts helped them come back from the brink of extinction.
When it comes to the preserves, it's often a connection to the past.
One thing is clear: Everyone loves wildlife shots.
If you've ever spent a long day in the sun with no sunscreen, you've probably paid the price in the form of a bad sunburn. But are animals at risk for painful sunburns too?
Stay hydrated and avoid heat illnesses during the dog days of summer with these tips.
Barb Ferry has been raising monarch butterflies at home and releasing them into the wild, with the ultimate goals of helping sustain their population and educating the public of their importance.
Find out by answering these 10 questions.
Is that a chipmunk or a ground squirrel scurrying around your yard in preparation for winter? Learn how to tell the difference between these two similar-looking rodents.
Find out by answering these 10 questions.
Turtle hit by car in Morris lives on through surviving hatchlings that have been placed in a Blanding's turtle recovery program.
Enjoy them while you can — because they'll be gone before you know it
Knowing the difference between wild parsnip and golden alexander could save you from a painful, burning rash.
The cold-weather seed distribution of around 350 different plant species is scheduled for 14 preserves throughout Will County.
While jerks out in the preserves can cause a number of problems for normal, everyday visitors, jerks on the water can be even more problematic.
Can you ace this 10-question quiz?
Can't tell the difference between a Cooper's hawk and a sharp-shinned hawk? You're not alone. These two birds are strikingly similar in appearance, but there's a few things to look for to help tell them apart.
Birds don't hatch knowing how to fly. Much like babies learning to walk, learning to fly is a process for baby birds, one that often involves a lot of trial and error.
American white pelicans make their presence known in Will County twice a year, so get to know more about these biannual visitors in our creature feature.
Thirty members of law enforcement recently scooped, plucked and netted insects from pig carcasses during a death investigation entomology workshop at a rural forest preserve.
Spider silk is stronger than any other fiber on Earth, but how do these eight-legged creatures make it? They are specially equipped for making silk, with glands and structures designed for just that purpose.
Food scraps don't decompose as fast as you might think, so leaving your apple cores and banana peels behind is bad news for many reasons.
Trillions of cigarettes are littered each year, creating a lasting impact for the environment. And now, with the rising popularity of e-cigarettes, litter from smoking includes both hazardous and electronic waste.