Bison at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, one of three natural areas in the region where bison have been reintroduced. (USDA Forest Service)
Whether the weather cooperates or not, spring has sprung and one of the surest signs of the season is the appearance of baby wildlife.
A couple of recent births highlight the success of restoration and conservation efforts in Illinois.
The newcomers include a bison calf born at Nachusa Grasslands, 100 miles west of Chicago, where a small herd was introduced in 2014. Bison once freely roamed the Midwest and are now found in the wild at a handful of preserves in Illinois and Indiana as part of prairie ecosystem restoration projects.
Need some good news today? The first baby bison of Spring was born at @Nachusa just a few days ago! At birth, a calf is light enough to be picked up, and by November it may weigh 350 pounds. Welcome to the world, little bison calf!
Bill Kleiman/TNC pic.twitter.com/EyPZdMSz7t
— TNC in Illinois (@Nature_IL) April 28, 2022
Will County forest preserves staff is celebrating a second successful nesting season for a pair of bald eagles, with two eaglets spotted in mid-April.
Eagle offspring can be difficult to confirm initially — because the birds’ nests are so large and deep, eaglets heads barely reach the top, according to the forest preserve. A second nest is being monitored for signs of hatching.
To protect the eagles, the forest preserve does not disclose the locations of the nests.
Bald eagle update: We have two confirmed eaglets in a nest >>> https://t.co/dblYA52dkP. #ReconnectWithNature pic.twitter.com/QRIBe1w8qb
— WillCoForestPreserve (@WillCoForests) April 19, 2022
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
