Hickory Creek Preserve

09/02/2026

The weather forecast probably has you dressing more for summer than fall these days, but every year around this time we begin to eagerly anticipate the arrival of fall color. And with good reason. Fall color can be quite spectacular across the county. But when exactly those yellow, orange, red and purple hues begin to creep in depends on a variety of factors, including temperatures and precipitation.

Interactive map predicts when fall color will peak in Will County and beyond.

08/26/2026

Calling all amateur shutterbugs! Your photos from the preserves could win you the top prize, or one of the monthly prizes, in our Preserve the Moment photo contest.

08/19/2026

Deer are known for their quiet, peaceful nature, but they are pretty skilled at traversing the land. They can run at speeds of up to 30 mph and jump as high as 8 feet. Plus they are good swimmers and will enter the water to evade a predator.

(Photo courtesy of Amy Miller)

Here are five fun facts about our curious white-tailed deer.

08/12/2026

Why are there so many sweat bees in August? If you’ve noticed more small bees around your yard, garden or even landing on you, there’s a reason. Late summer is a particularly active time for many sweat bees. By August, many species are especially abundant and active, and late-summer flowers provide plenty of pollen and nectar. Hot weather can also make these bees more noticeable because some sweat bees are attracted to the salts in human perspiration. Despite their name and their interest in your sweat, these small native bees are generally not aggressive. They’re also important pollinators, visiting many of the wildflowers and garden plants blooming across our region right now. If one lands on you, gently brush it away rather than swatting at it.

Sweat bees and hover flies are often confused for both one another and for other bees. Neither poses any threat, however, and both are essential insects.

08/05/2026

Butterflies are more than just beautiful visitors. They are an important part of healthy ecosystems. By planting native wildflowers like milkw**d, Joe-Pye w**d, and coneflowers, you can provide food for butterflies while supporting pollinators throughout the growing season. What are your favorite butterfly-friendly plants?

Brush up on butterflies with these five fascinating facts.

07/29/2026

Here in Illinois, if you see a mammal with a black masked face and a long striped tail, there's no doubt it's a raccoon. In some parts of the United States, though, there's another creature that fits the bill.

Get to the know the coati — an animal that might remind you of another mammal we see here in Illinois.

07/22/2026

Each month, you can submit up to five original photos taken in a Will County forest preserve or on a District trail. Monthly winners receive prizes and advance to the final round for a shot at top honors. Winning photos may be featured on our website, in print publications, on social media or even in the 2027 Forest Preserve calendar.

It’s back! Beginning Feb.1, the Forest Preserve is once again hosting its Preserve the Moment photo contest, so grab your camera and get ready to capture Will County’s wild side!

07/15/2026

The creation of bluebird trails and installation of bluebird boxes allowed the bird's population to slowly rebound across its range, with the population increasing between 1966 and 2019. Today, the eastern bluebird is considered a species of low conservation concern. Bluebirds are common in open areas like pastures, fields, parks, golf courses and even sometimes backyards.

(Photo courtesy of Jen Lynn)

07/08/2026

That loud buzz you hear coming from the trees in your yard is probably from a cicada, but not the same kind of cicadas that make headlines across northeastern Illinois every 17 years.

That buzz you hear coming from the trees in your yard is coming from cicadas, but not the same kind of cicadas that garner big headlines every 17 years. These cicadas, called dog-day cicadas, emerge every summer, alerting us to their presence with their well-known buzzing sound.

07/01/2026

Even before the smoke clears from our annual Independence Day displays the first of the three meteor showers, the alpha Capricornids, kicks off on July 3. This long-running meteor shower lasts until Aug. 15 and will peak the night of July 30 to 31.

Shooting star activity will be heating up in July, with three meteor showers kicking off. A comet will also be visible in the night sky.