Four Rivers Environmental Education Center

06/01/2026

Appreciation post! We owe turkey vultures a debt of gratitude for the important work they do keeping our environment clean. These vultures feed almost exclusively on carrion, and without them the landscape would be littered with animal carcasses. (Photo courtesy of Joe Viola)

Turkey vultures are raptors just like eagles and hawks, but there are a few things that set them apart.

05/28/2026

Not all turtles have hard shells. The shell of a softshell turtle is rubbery or leathery and doesn't offer as much protection, so these turtles tend to be a little more aggressive than many of their relatives.

Eastern spiny softshell turtles aren't as large as snapping turtles, but they are one of the biggest freshwater turtles in the United States.

05/28/2026

Homeschool students are invited to Four Rivers for a naturalist-led field trip. Students will participate in a BioBlitz and observe, identify and count all the unique kinds of life that exist in the preserve and make ecological predictions based on the data collected.

Homeschool Day at Four Rivers: BioBlitz
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 4
Where: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center
Registration required.

6/4/2026: Join other middle and high school-aged homeschoolers to experience a naturalist-led field trip at McKinley Woods — Kerry Sheridan Grove and participate in a BioBlitz.

05/25/2026

A warm, sunny late spring day calls for a walk with both sunny and shady portions, so that was Meghan’s goal as she Wandered at Will while visiting Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.

The preserve around Four Rivers has lots of trails to choose from, but the best bet for a nice, long walk with water views is to jump on the I&M Canal State Trail there. This trail, which is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, runs 61.5 miles from Rockdale to LaSalle and runs through Channahon.

After a quick loop around the Prairie Loop Trail at Four Rivers, I took the I&M Canal State Trail north to Channahon State Park. It was just warm and sunny enough that I appreciated the stretches of shade along the way. I expected to see turtles and snakes sunning on logs dotting the water, but I think I arrived a little too early to see them basking in every sunny spot they can find. What I did see were plenty of birds, everything from green herons and great egrets to orioles and yellow warblers. As usual at this time of year, the red-winged blackbirds were making their presence known, including dive bombing me once when I apparently got too close to their nest. I also saw plenty of wildlife babies — cottontail rabbits, squirrels and goslings, my favorite.

Now that the forest flowers have faded away, things are starting to bloom in the prairie. I saw my pops of yellow from golden Alexander and my first pretty purple Ohio spiderwort blooms of the year. There was plenty of milkweed too, although I didn’t see any monarchs on this outing.

05/22/2026

Do you recognize this bird? Tell us what species you think it is.

05/18/2026

Ladybugs have quite the appetite for insects.

05/15/2026

One of the best part of spring for our resident wanderer, Meghan, is goslings. In you've been near the water lately, there's a good chance you've seen these little fluff balls learning to make their way in the world.

Meghan heads out in search of goslings, her favorite thing about spring.

05/11/2026

Bobcats look quite a bit like some domesticated cats, but they are about twice as big. Key identification features include their ears, which have tufts of black fur on top, and their tails, which are bobbed, hence their name. Have you seen a bobcat in northern Illinois?

Of the 40 wildcat species in the world, just the bobcat lives in Illinois, and even its existence here is a surprise to many people.

05/08/2026

We often hear we must leave baby birds found on the ground alone because their mothers will reject them if they've been touched by humans. In reality, though, this simply isn't true. And sometimes a little help from humans is just what they need.

A mother won't reject her babies if you touch them, but most young birds don't need your help.

05/07/2026

Our spring wildflowers have stories to tell, so join us for a naturalist-led hike to see what's in bloom around Four Rivers. As we go, we will learn the legends and lore behind the flowers and how they have been used through time.

Where the Wildflowers Are: Four Rivers
When: 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16
Where: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center
Registration required.

5/16/2026: Our wildflowers have stories to tell, so join us for a hike at Four Rivers, a top spot to seek wildflowers.