O'Hara Woods Preserve

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O'Hara Woods Preserve

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O'Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville protects forest and wetland habitat.

10/29/2026

To call something an urban oasis or a suburban oasis might seem like an overused phrase, but it certainly does seem to be an apt description for O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville.

10/21/2026

"O’Hara Woods is a place of discovery, a place for tiny adventures, for wonder. It’s where I go to reconnect with nature in this technologically driven world. I always emerge refreshed and more optimistic. It is my favorite place in Will County."
— Sara Russell, interpretive naturalist

Interpretive naturalist Sara Russell tells us why she loves O'Hara Woods Preserve.

10/09/2026

What's your favorite spot to check out the fall color?

It may just seem like Mother Nature is showing off when fall color hits its peak, but the spectacular display is the result of complex yet gradual changes in each of those lovely leaves.

10/06/2026

Is there a more aptly named mammal than the cottontail rabbit? There's much more to these critters than their tails. Here are a few fast facts about them:

1. A female cottontail rabbit can have between 20 and 25 babies a year!
2. Their large ears help them hear and also regulate their temperature.
3. They eat their own p**p, and it's a normal part of their diet.

Learn even more about northern Illinois' only rabbit species at the link below.

Rabbits might seem ordinary, but there's more to them than meets the eye.

10/03/2026

Why do they call it a screech owl? Program coordinator Jess McQuown explains.

09/29/2026

It may be fall, but plenty of pollinating insects are still busy doing important work. As flowers and other plants begin to die back, food and other resources become more scarce, but there are some steps you can take at home to help these essential insects.

Fall is a trying time for pollinating insects. They're still in need of food and water even as their regular sources begin to fade away as autumn fully sets in. You can help by planting late-blooming native plants and providing for their needs.

09/25/2026

Have you ever poked a puffball mushroom to watch the puff of "smoke" filter out? That puff is actually a cloud of spores, and a single raindrop can be enough to send them flying, making these mushrooms hard to resist.

It can be hard to resist the urge to give puffballs a little push, releasing their millions of spores into the air.

09/24/2026

The seasons are changing, so hit the trail at O'Hara Woods to see what's happening in the forest as fall sets in. On this naturalist-led hike, we'll be looking for wildlife, fungi and more.

Fall on the Forest Floor
When: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1
Where: O'Hara Woods Preserve
Registration required.

10/1/2026: Fall is a busy time in the forest, so take a stroll through O'Hara Woods to explore the seasonal changes.

09/22/2026

Northern flickers are one of several local woodpecker species, easy to identify from their breasts covered in black polka dots. Like most of our woodpecker species, they are insect eaters, and their favorite foods are ants and beetles. They are often spotted on the ground foraging for insects.

Northern flickers look a little different than most of our local woodpecker species, and we see them on the ground much more than you might expect for a woodpecker.

09/20/2026

Creature feature: The raccoon

These critters have a well-earned reputation as troublemakers, getting into garbage cans and more around our homes. They are able to get into things like garbage cans and bird feeders because they are extremely dexterous and have an excellent sense of touch.

Raccoons can live in just about any type of habitat, from rural to urban, and they will eat just about anything. In urban and suburban areas, they are most common near woodlands and farmlands. Common foods include fruits, nuts, insects, rodents, frogs, eggs and crayfish, and they will happily scavenge through garbage cans for food.

Fun fact: The word raccoon comes from the word “arakunem,” a term used by Native Algonquian people that translates to “he scratches with hands.”

Address

Romeoville, IL

Telephone

+18157278700

Website

https://reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/preserves/ohara-woods/

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