Theodore Marsh

05/31/2026

Learning to fly takes practice!

Young birds called fledglings often spend time hopping on the ground and fluttering between branches before they master flight. Even if they seem alone, their parents are usually nearby watching and feeding them.

If you spot a feathered baby bird on the ground, it may not need rescuing at all — it could just be learning how to fly.

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.

05/24/2026

Dandelions are often seen as w**ds, but they actually play an important role in our environment. They provide early spring nectar for pollinators like bees, offer food for birds, and even help improve soil health with their deep root systems. Once a symbol of wild prairie landscapes, these bright yellow flowers are only a temporary part of spring and can be surprisingly beneficial to both wildlife and our lawns.

Each spring, homeowners declare war on dandelions, pulling out all the stops to keep America’s most hated w**d out of their yards and gardens.

05/17/2026

Not all bees die after they sting. Honeybees can sting only once because their barbed stingers get stuck, but many other bees, along with wasps and hornets, can sting multiple times.

You've probably heard that bees die when they sting you, but this isn't universally true. Most bee species don't even have stingers.

05/10/2026

The eastern fox snake is one of the common snakes in our area and is often mistaken for the eastern massasauga because they can have similar coloring. However, fox snakes have square or rectangular markings and a slender, pointed tail, while massasaugas display hourglass shaped patterns and a distinctive rattling tail.

In Illinois, these species live in different regions: fox snakes are found in northern and central parts of the state, while massasaugas are mainly in southern habitats. Both species play important roles in their ecosystems and generally prefer to stay out of sight and avoid contact with people.

Is that snake you saw a dangerous eastern massasauga rattlesnake or a nonvenomous fox snake? If you saw it in Will County, it was a fox snake. The massasauga does not live in Will County. In fact, no venomous snakes do.

05/03/2026

Can you name this bird?

04/26/2026

There’s nothing quite like spotting a white-tailed deer in the distance—it’s a moment that makes you pause and take it all in.

Once rare in Illinois, deer are now a true conservation success story. Today, they thrive across our landscapes, from forests to neighborhoods. While they may seem quiet and elusive, they play an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced.

If you’re lucky enough to see one, stay still and enjoy the moment—these graceful visitors are never far, even when you don’t see them.

From what they eat to where they live, get to know North America's most common deer.

04/23/2026

It's time to name this tree!

04/19/2026

Sometimes, the simple act of stepping outside can mean everything.

For Linda and Rich, joining Be a Trailblazer started as a fun way to explore the outdoors—but it quickly became so much more. During a difficult health journey, time spent in nature offered peace, distraction and moments of hope when they needed it most.

Walking the trails, completing missions and taking in the beauty around them gave Linda something to look forward to and a way to focus on healing, one step at a time. Today, with a clean bill of health, those walks are still just as meaningful.

Be a Trailblazer isn’t just about completing challenges. It’s about finding joy, calm and connection when you need it most.

Ready to start your own journey?

Forest Preserve's Be a Trailblazer experience provides welcome distraction during woman's cancer treatment.

04/12/2026

The journey from egg to frog is a fascinating, lengthy process. Tadpoles hatch from jelly-like eggs in about four days, but transforming into a full-grown frog can take one to two years. During this time, tadpoles grow to 4 to 6 inches, and the longer the transformation, the larger the frog. Bullfrogs, for example, can live over 10 years in the wild, though most average 5 to 6 years.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is a government organization in Illinois focusing on land preservation and restoration, outdoor recreation, and environmental education.

03/22/2026

Quiet, watchful and perfectly at home in the wild.

(Photo courtesy of Laurie’s Trail)

While coyotes are a common sight in Illinois, wolves are seen only very rarely, having been extirpated since the 1800s. In areas where both coyotes and wolves live, however, it can be tricky to tell them apart without knowing the key differences.