Nature's Edge - Village Natural Areas - July 2004

If you are reading this you must have survived the monsoons of May and June and also not been carried away by the mosquitoes. July promises to be a warmer drier month and provides a great opportunity for exploring the Village natural areas.

Spring Lake provides some of the best fishing in all of Lake County. Large Mouth Bass, Catfish, and Blue Gill are stocked in the lake. Many of these fish are significant in size and give quite a fight when caught. Permits are not required and the Village recommends that fish be released back into the lake.

Rivershire Park was inundated during the recent flooding and it will take a while for the plants and wildlife to get back to normal. However, there is a lot to observe at this park and the associated Des Plaines River. Some things to watch for are discarded mussel shells left behind after a raccoon has had dinner and turtles nesting along the river edge. The newly restored wetland at the south end of the wet meadow is full of activity with turtles, snakes, birds and more. Just standing quietly for a few minutes will enable you to see an abundance of wildlife.

The newly restored natural area at North Park provides a wonderful hiking path. It also connects to Florsheim if you want to enter at one park and exit at the other.) Interpretive signs are provided along the path to explain the significance and characteristics of the Chicago River watershed. A tremendous number of plants will be blooming in July. Take a minute to observe the plants growing in the preserve. Many of them have specific textures and shapes to their leaves that help sustain them and wildlife during periods of drought. Their biological design includes deep roots to find water far beneath the surface, course textures that hold water droplets allowing the plant to absorb more moisture in dry seasons and cupped leaves that hold water for animals and insects.

Florsheim Park is home to a large number of coyotes and foxes. On an early morning walk, it is not uncommon to see them running about. You may observe "scat" on the paths or boardwalks. This is fecal matter deposited in locations "to claim" their territory. You will observe fur and bones in the scat which would indicated that they have a hearty digestive system and don't seem to be too picky about what they eat! Florsheim Park is the most diverse of all of the Village parks for plants and wildlife. You will see a wide assortment of birds, turtles, salamanders, snakes and more.

If you wish to broaden your natural area experience, please call the Village and request the use of an Explorer backpack. These backpacks contain field guides, activities, binoculars, magnifying glasses and more. A simple walk through the Village natural areas with an eye open to observe all the activities going on around you will yield a wondrous display.