Researchers examining bat species in the Chicago area
Bats, which are insectivores, can eat up to their weight in insects every night, which, for some bats, could mean 3,000 insects a night.
Deer-related collisions up, deer population trending down
Deer numbers are down this year in Cook County because of an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease.
Photo confirms cougar sighting in Illinois
The picture, which has been authenticated by state officials, is the fourth confirmed cougar sighting in Illinois since the late 19th century.
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Researchers examining bat species in the Chicago area
(POSTED: 11/12/12) Scientists with Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute are collecting bat stories and photos from Chicago-area residents to try and learn more about bat colonies in the area. “We are interested in seeing how bats are ad
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Deer-related collisions up, deer population trending down
(POSTED: 11/5/12) Cook County had the highest number of vehicle collisions involving deer in 2011 compared to other Illinois counties, according to recently released data from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of N
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Photo confirms cougar sighting in Illinois
(POSTED: 11/2/12) A Downstate deer hunter recently captured a photograph on a motion-triggered camera of a cougar prowling the woods of west central Illinois, the Chicago Tribune reports. The picture, which has been authenticated by state officia
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Dog waste contributing to Chicago’s rodent problem
(POSTED: 10/24/12) According to a Patch.com article, the Chicago Department of Streets & Sanitation has baited twice as many rodents so far in 2012 than the previous year and the number of phone calls residents have made for rodent control serv
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De-skunking dogs ‘not a favorable job’
(POSTED: 10/22/12) Frantic pet owners dealing with a skunked dog in the wee hours of the night can turn to R.J. Brasic. Brasic runs a dog grooming business in Des Plaines that offers an around-the-clock “de-skunking” service to help rid the sk
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Residents finding lots of dead birds in Chicago
(POSTED: 10/3/12) Some Chicago residents say they’ve been noticing an unusually high number of dead birds in recent weeks. “It’s kind of eerie,” said Britt Hughes, who spotted throughout September about eight to 10 small birds lying dead o
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Study: Coyotes loyal to their mates
(POSTED: 10/1/12) New research on coyotes in the Chicago area shows the animals stay with their mates ‘til death do them part. Scientists with The Ohio State University genetically sampled 236 coyotes in the Chicago area over a six-year period a
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Morton Arboretum partners with NASA on tree research
(POSTED: 9/20/12) Morton Arboretum scientists partnered with NASA aeronautical engineers earlier this month to investigate what makes trees stand and what makes them fall. Using Space Shuttle technology, the research team, which included local sci
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Young wildlife photographer shares love of nature
(POSTED: 9/10/12) With a camera in tow, Brendon Lake stood about 25 feet from a great grey owl in Grand Teton National Park when the magnificent bird swooped to the ground, snatched a vole and flew off in the mountain sky. A few clicks of his Cano
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Rare snakes released into wild near Chicago
(POSTED: 8/30/12) Eighteen smooth green snakes were recently released in the wild near Chicago as part of a “head start” program run by Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lake County Forest Preserve District in an effort to reintroduce the rare species in
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Study: Chicago more at risk of West Nile virus than suburbs
(POSTED: 8/20/12) Downtown Chicago may be more at risk of exposure to West Nile virus than a wooded forest preserve in the suburbs, according to a new study by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute. In the study, scientists measured the ex
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Experts: Watch for sick birds at Montrose Harbor
(POSTED: 8/6/12) Experts believe a small outbreak of avian botulism, a potentially fatal disease that causes paralysis in birds, may have hit Chicago’s lakefront near the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. At least three birds were found dead after
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Where are all the squirrels?
(POSTED: 7/23/12) Typically during this time of year Brian Nigbor spends part of each week cleaning up after the squirrels in his yard. The rodents like to nest in a big maple tree in front of his North Side home and often make a mess of old leaves a
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Wildlife center tries to “re-wild” pet fox
(POSTED: 7/2/12) Fox Valley Wildlife Center is trying to “re-wild” a young red fox that was purchased from an exotic pet store in Yorkville. A woman, who said she doesn’t believe wildlife should be kept as pets, recently dropped off the fox
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Fireflies return, light up Chicago’s summer nights
(POSTED: 6/25/12) Fireflies are back in Chicago lighting up the night sky with their dazzling glow. Also called lightning bugs, the insects, which are a type of beetle, emerged from the ground earlier this month and can now be seen flying througho
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