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The Forest Preserve District of Will County brings people and nature together. Also us: @TodaysBird | @WildlifeofDay | @TodaysBaldEagle | @TodayInNature.

Will County, Illinois
Joined October 2009
Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)Photo by WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests)
Give your pumpkins a second life! Join us for a Pumpkin Smash at Hidden Oaks on Nov. 7 or Plum Creek on Nov. 14. Composting keeps pumpkins out of landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions! 📸: Glenn P. Knoblock #PumpkinSmash #Wildlife #HiddenOaks #PlumCreek
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Bats and owls may seem spooky, but these nighttime creatures play important roles in nature! 📸: Adobe Stock #Bats #Owls #SpookySeason #WillCoForests #Wildlife
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Monarchs, pumpkin spiders and crows wear nature’s Halloween colors all year long! 🧡🖤 📸: Joe Viola #Halloween #Wildlife #HalloweenColors #PumpkinSpider #WillCoForests
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Bobcats, foxes and owls have eerie calls that sound straight out of a horror movie! 📸: Laurie's Trail #WillCoForests #Bobcats #Foxes #Owls #HorrorMovies
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Welcome 2027 with a calendar filled with beautiful nature photography. Every purchase supports The Nature Foundation of Will County!Calendars are $15 each, with $5 off each additional calendar (up to five discounted calendars per year). Get yours today! outsiderthreads.com/products…
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Spiders, snakes and scurrying mice! Which creepy-crawly gives you the biggest fright? 🎃 📸: Shutterstock #Spiders #Halloween #CreeoyCrawly #Snakes #Mice #WillCoForests
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With their long legs and elegant necks, cranes are hard to miss! Meet the white-naped crane, a wetland bird native to parts of Asia. These cranes are known for their elaborate dances and calls, but habitat loss and other threats have left them vulnerable. 📸:Shutterstock
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Get text, phone or email alerts about prescribed burns near you! Sign up through Will County Smart911 and opt in to “Will County Forest Preserve Controlled Burn Alerts.” 📸: Anthony Schalk #WillCoForests #PrescribedBurns #Notifications
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Winter can be tough on wildlife, but your yard can help! Give local wildlife a helping hand this winter by keeping bird feeders stocked, providing fresh water and planting trees and shrubs for shelter. Small changes can make a big difference in helping wildlife! 📸: Shutterstock
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Fake spiderwebs may look spooky, but they can be dangerous for wildlife! Insects and animals can become tangled in the strands and struggle to escape. This Halloween, skip the fake spiderwebs on your porch and bushes. Let real spiders do the decorating instead! 📸:Adobe Stock
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Fall colors are rolling in right about now! Shorter days can trigger color change. However, it really depends on the weather. Sunny days, cool nights and adequate rainfall help create brilliant fall hues, while heat, drought and storms can shorten the show. 📸:Michael Fagan
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Puffballs range from marble-sized to larger than a soccer ball! These fungi recycle nutrients and release millions of spores. Did you also know the giant puffball is Illinois’ official state mushroom? 📸: Glenn P. Knoblock #WillCoForests #Puffballs #Fungi
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Love them or find them a little too crafty, raccoons are common in Illinois. Their nimble paws and varied diet help them thrive in habitats from woodlands to neighborhoods! 📸: Joe Viola #WillCoForests #Raccoons #Wildlife
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Venomous mammals? Believe it or not! The short-tailed shrew is the only venomous mammal in the U.S. Its saliva contains a toxin that can paralyze or kill prey. 📸: Laurie Lasseter #WillCoForests #ShortTailedShrew #Wildlife
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Let's learn about the Nature Word of The Day! #WordOfTheDay #WillCoForests #Woodcock
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Seeing a coyote in Illinois is not unusual. Give them space, never feed them and keep pets supervised. If one approaches, stand tall, wave your arms and make noise. 📸: Laurie Lasseter #WillCoForests #Coyotes #Wildlife
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Stink bugs are seeking shelter as temperatures drop. They don’t bite or sting, but they do stink! Seal cracks around your home and gently remove any you find indoors. 📸: Shutterstock #StinkBug #Fall #WillCoForests
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Hopefully this video isn’t too boring! Sorry we can’t control the slugs' speed. #Slugs #WillCoForests #SlowAndSteadyWinsTheRace
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Keep an eye out for Cooper's hawks! These expert hunters use their short wings and long tails to maneuver through trees. You may even spot one near a bird feeder, watching for birds instead of seed! 📸: Laurie Lasseter #CoopersHawk #WillCoForests #BirdWatch
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Ever wonder how spiders make their webs? Their silk starts as a liquid, then hardens into strong, flexible fibers through tiny structures called spinnerets. Spiders use silk for webs, nests, egg sacs and safety lines! 📸: Irene DeTella #Spiders #SpiderWebs #WillCoForests
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