Isle a la Cache Museum/Preserve

08/31/2026

Great horned owls are one of the top predators in our area. They mainly eat small mammals like rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice, but they are capable of catching animals even larger than themselves. They are also one of the few animals to hunt skunks.

They are nocturnal, and they prefer woodland habitats, particularly young forests near fields, farmland and other open areas when they can hunt. Not all owls hoot, but great horned owls do. Their familiar hoo-h-hoo-hoo-hoo is the one you probably think of when you think of an owl hooting.

Great horned owls nest in the winter, typically laying their eggs in February or March. The nest in tree cavities and hollows or will take over the nest of hawks, crows and even squirrels since they use them at different times of the year.

Fun fact: Their “horns” aren’t horns at all. Instead, they are tufts of feathers called plumicorns.

(Photos courtesy of Joe Viola)

08/28/2026

We’re excited to put our new paddles to use, thanks to the generous support of The Nature Foundation of Will County! With hands-on STEAM/STEM learning in mind, the paddles will be part of upcoming school field trips at Isle a la Cache Museum.

During these field trips, students will put their muscles — and their singing skills — to the test as they step into the role of French voyageurs and learn about the fur trade. Through this fun, land-based experience, they’ll practice paddling, work together as a crew and discover what it took to travel the waterways during the fur trade era.

(Photo by Sara Russell)

08/24/2026

See it while you still can! “Our Storytellers: Pokagon Potawatomi Black Ash Baskets” is on display at Isle a la Cache through Sunday, Aug. 30. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. Developed and curated by Dr. John Low and the Field Museum of Chicago, the exhibit goes beyond the history and utility of black ash baskets, exploring the connections between craft, federal recognition, tribal resilience and the ongoing ecological threats to traditional ways of life for the Pokagon people.

08/20/2026

Looking for a great spot for your next field trip? Isle a la Cache Museum offers hands-on opportunities for kids to learn about local wildlife, habitats and the natural world.

We recently welcomed a KinderCare summer field trip. Program Coordinator Amy McNeil introduced the group to one of our ambassador animals, Hungry, Hungry, Hippo, a Blanding’s turtle.

Experiences like this give young learners a chance to see wildlife up close and discover what makes these animals and their habitats so special.

(Photo by Jen Guest)

08/17/2026

The contest showcases the beauty of Will County preserves and the flora and fauna they protect. Photos from past contests have included birds in flight, colorful flowers in bloom, mammals in all of their splendor, visually breathtaking landscapes and the tiniest of insects.

08/14/2026

A hard shell is a turtle's most well-known feature, but not all turtles are so lucky as to have a protective shell to retreat into when danger nears. Softshell turtles don't get nearly as much protection from their shells, but they survive and thrive despite this.

(Photo courtesy of Laurie’s Trail)

Eastern spiny softshell turtles aren't as large as snapping turtles, but they are one of the biggest freshwater turtles in the United States.

08/12/2026

Don’t miss Our Storytellers: Pokagon Potawatomi Black Ash Baskets at Isle a la Cache Museum. Explore beautiful black ash basketry and the stories, traditions and culture woven into each piece.

The exhibit is only here through Aug. 30, so plan your visit soon!

Black ash baskets made by Pokagon artists will be on display through Aug. 30.

08/11/2026

Mid-August is the start of the monarchs' 3,000-mile journey to the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico.

The monarchs you see at this time of the year are truly special, part of a 'super generation' that's different than the three generations that preceded it.

08/06/2026

“I picked this photo because it's a close-up of one of nature's tiniest creatures doing one of its most important jobs,” one contest judge said. “Seeing the bee covered in pollen is amazing. Even better, it's visiting a native plant, making it a perfect example of how native plants and native pollinators support each other. A win-win!”

Nancy "Gaby" Valladolid snapped July's winning shot at Isle a la Cache preserve. The contest continues through Dec. 31.

08/03/2026

On the rare instances when they are seen aboveground, pocket gophers are often mistaken for moles. The two animals look similar, but gophers are larger than moles.

The plains pocket gopher spends almost its entire life underground, digging long tunnels through sandy soil. Learn how this little mammal helps the environment, what it eats and how to tell its tunnels apart from a mole's.