Wauponsee Glacial Trail

08/31/2026

Eastern chipmunks are ground squirrels, and they are one of four ground squirrels found in Illinois, along with 13-lined ground squirrels, Franklin’s ground squirrels and woodchucks. They are the smallest of the four, measuring 8 inches to 12 inches long and weighing just 2 ounces to 5 ounces.

Chipmunks live across Illinois, preferring the edges of woodland areas. But don’t be surprised to see them in your yard because they thrive in urban areas as well. They are most active during the day, and they generally live solitary lives although they sometimes live in close proximity to other chipmunks.

They are omnivores. Their diet primarily consists of seeds, nuts, fungi and flowers, but they will eat insects, spiders and other invertebrates in the summer.

Fun fact: They can store a lot of food in their chubby cheeks. Their expandable cheek pouches can extend to hold as many as 12 acorns, 31 kernels of corn or 70 sunflower seeds!

(Photos courtesy of Jen Radwan)

08/24/2026

Unlike most other migrating animals, the super monarchs will never complete the return trip. They begin the journey north but typically only travel as far as the southern United States before mating and laying the eggs that will become the next generation, the first in the new year’s cycle.

08/17/2026

There's something in the air, and it might be making you sniffle and sneeze. Plenty of us suffer from seasonal allergies, and at this time of year there's usually one culprit: ragw**d.

Suffering from seasonal allergies right about now? It's ragw**d that has you sneezing, not goldenrod.

08/11/2026

Meet the common buckeye! Those large eyespots aren’t just beautiful. They may help startle or distract predators, giving the butterfly a chance to escape.

Common buckeyes are often found in sunny, open areas such as fields, meadows, roadsides and gardens. They frequently perch on bare ground, which may be why you spot one in an unexpected place like a gravel path.

Common buckeyes are found across much of the United States during the warmer months, with their range shifting seasonally.

(Photo courtesy of Jen Carusi)

08/03/2026

Have you ever found yourself feeling curious about clouds? Looking up to the sky can open up a world of imagination where different shapes and hues form pictures and stories that play out in your mind.

Discover the fun of cloud gazing! Learn how to use your imagination, keep a cloud journal and spot clues about the weather by looking up at the sky.

07/27/2026

Killdeer are shorebirds, but they are just as at home away from water as they are near it. Unlike most birds, when humans and other threats draw near, the killdeer will often run away first, rather than flying off.

One of most common birds in North America, the killdeer has a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to protecting its nest from potential threats. 

07/13/2026

Don't be surprised to see a Cooper's hawk hanging around your backyard bird feeders. It's not the bird seed they are after, however. Instead, they are on the hunt for the birds visiting your feeders. Like other birds of prey, Cooper's hawks hunt small animals, and their prey of choice is primarily birds, especially medium-sized birds like mourning doves, European starlings, robins and jays.

(Photo courtesy of Heidi Kelly)

07/06/2026

This trail is divided into two segments, north and south, that travel a total of 22.42 miles between Joliet to the north and Custer Park to the south. The north segment is a flat, paved trail that traverses 2.8 miles of woodland, prairie and wetland between Rowell Avenue and Sugar Creek Preserve. The south segment is a flat, crushed limestone trail traveling 19.62 miles through prairie between Sugar Creek Preserve and the Kankakee River. Using street routes, the trail connects to the I&M Canal Trail, the I&M Canal State Trail and the Old Plank Road Trail. The trail also links to the paths at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. It can be accessed from Sugar Creek Preserve, Forked Creek Preserve’s Ballou Road Access, Manhattan Road Access, Symerton Access or the Midewin-Wauponsee Trailhead.

With an extensive trail network, there are plenty of places to explore on two wheels.

06/29/2026

Summer projects include invasive w**d removal, brush control and seed collection.

Sign up for a summer Volunteer Morning program today. Help improve Will County's preserves while getting exercise and meeting new people.

06/22/2026

Keeping hummingbird feeders full may help attract them to your yard, but you can also include plants in your landscape that provide a natural habitat for them. Planting wildflowers is a good way to create a habitat suitable for ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Both hummingbird feeders and wildflowers can help attract ruby-throated hummingbirds to your yard, but don't forget about including plants that host insects, another important food source for these tiny beauties.