Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve

06/14/2026

Some creatures among us don't get much love from the masses, but they are all important and unique in their own way. Here's your chance to learn more about some of these maligned animals.

Knowing the facts about them can help turn your disdain into appreciation.

06/11/2026

Ever spotted a luna moth in the wild? Here's your chance to learn all about these moths.

The luna moth is one of the easiest moths to identify, both because of its large size and pale green coloring.

06/04/2026

Do you know the difference between a lizard and a salamander? At first glance, they look surprisingly similar, but one is a reptile and the other is an amphibian. A few simple clues can help you tell them apart.

Lizards and salamanders are easy to confuse with one another because they look similar, but there are many differences between them, starting with how they are classified in the animal kingdom.

06/01/2026

We experience plenty of daylight in June. What's your plan for taking advantage of it?

The time between sunrise and sunset reaches its maximum in June, so make plans to enjoy all that daylight.

05/28/2026

Fun fact: Squirrels don't throw up. They aren't capable of it. In fact, no rodents vomit. Here's your chance to learn why.

Squirrels and other rodents are incapable of vomiting. Why they can't is related to their anatomy and physiology.

05/25/2026

Learn more about the lichen that grows on trees, rocks and more from program coordinator Alyssa Parker.

05/21/2026

Turns out a frog could jump pretty far in a game of leapfrog. How far could you jump?(Photo courtesy of Jen Carusi)

The biggest frog in Illinois, the American bullfrog, is a pretty common sight along the water's edge, so take the opportunity to learn more about them.

05/18/2026

Teeny, tiny ruby-throated hummingbirds are back for the season, so here are some fast facts about these birds that might just blow your mind:

1. They weigh less than a nickel!
2. They have to eat at least half their body weight in sugar every day.
3. Their wings beat about 53 times a second!

Check out this story for more fascinating facts.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is among the most beloved birds in Will County, and the more you know about them the more you will love them.

05/14/2026

Because of the sandy soils, Braidwood Dunes and Savanna is home to plant and animal species that aren't seen in many other places in our region. There you'll see cacti and lizards, two things we don't always associate with northern Illinois.

Southwestern Will County is home to a sand prairie habitat that is one of the most diverse of its type in the entire state, and part of that is protected land at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve.

05/12/2026

Lichens are neither plant nor animal. These common organisms exist virtually everywhere on Earth, but they are unique in how they form and live.

Lichens are little known and not well understood, but they deserve our appreciation.