Urban Naturalist

The Chicago Park District's Urban Naturalist blog features great stories and topics about outdoor and environmental programs, policies, and initiatives. The Park District strives to encourage all our patrons to connect to the natural world and works to develop awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of the natural resources within the city of Chicago.

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Volunteer Voices - Sara Kuse

Apr 29, 2013

Many people have had a bee buzz in their ear and freak out, but Sara Kuse actually listens. Kuse says that her first memories of the North Park Village Nature Center are actually some of her first memories ever. She recalls playing with the puppets and reading books in the kid’s room. The staff at the North Park Village Nature Center has seen Sara grow and change over the years and benefited greatly from all her energy and generosity. She is starting at University of Chicago in September.

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Loch Ness Turtle

Apr 29, 2013

An elusive common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) has been making appearances at the wetland of North Park Village Nature Center. Those who have observed this large turtle have welcomed it with amazement and have described its size with wide-stretched arms. While the average snapping turtle is known to reach 20 inches in length and weigh 35 pounds, some very well fed snappers can weigh up to 75 pounds.

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Junior Naturalist - A Spring To Do List

Apr 29, 2013

There is a lot to do in the Nature Play area at North Park Village Nature Center, also known as “Walkingstick Woods.”

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Nature Play Is On Its Way

Apr 18, 2013

“Go outside and play” was a phrase often heard in households years ago. Parents regularly told their children to turn off the television and go play outside. And the kids did. Older adults spent much of their youth playing outdoors. This is becoming rare, according to Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods - Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.”

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Natures Caped Crusaders Bats

Mar 05, 2013

Discover all you need to know about nature's capded crusaders, the bat.

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That Touch of Mink

Mar 05, 2013

Though the mink is an elusive nocturnal animal, during the last year or so, many visitors to North Park Village Nature Center have asked, “What is that little brown ferret, otter, or weasel-like animal that’s playing in the wetland?” A mink sighting was confirmed when one of the Nature Center’s butterfly monitors snapped pictures last July of five American Mink.

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Volunteer Voices - Jack Smith

Mar 05, 2013

Jack Smith grew up on the southeast side of Chicago, near Calumet Park. He recalls spending much of his waking hours playing in the park as a youngster. His family home was located near the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad high lines.

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Junior Naturalist - Bat and Moth Game

Mar 05, 2013

If you were a bat hunting for food at night, how would you find a meal? Echolocation! All bats in Illinois use echolocation, a kind of bat radar, to locate and zoom in on their prey. They emit a pulse of sound at a high frequency that is inaudible to humans. The bat listens for echoes bouncing off objects to determine an item’s distance, shape, size and even surface texture. If all these clues add up to food, the hungry bat swoops in to catch its prey.

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Winter Highlights at the North Park Village Nature Preserve

Mar 05, 2013

It may be winter, but nature continues its activity quietly in North Park Village Nature Center's Nature Preserve each season! Here are few things to look for this winter.

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