The alarm clock is ready to ring for the periodical cicadas of Lake County. The previous mass emergence of these true bugs in 2007 set the alarm for 2024. During spring and summer 17 years ago, millions of cicadas tunneled out of the soil, crawled up trees, sang, mated and completed their life cycle. This will be a magical year for their offspring.

In this special-edition episode, host Brett Peto discusses the 2024 emergence of periodical cicadas in Illinois.

Links mentioned:

• Horizons magazine
• Cicada resources
• Cicada programs and events
• Celebrating Cicadas special exhibition
• Connect with us

Sign up for Horizons, the Forest Preserves' award-winning quarterly magazine. Print subscriptions are free, and issues are always available online.

This episode was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto. Featuring research and expertise from Mark Hurley, April Vaos, Samantha Gallagher and Dr. Gene Kritsky at Mount St. Joseph University. Script editing by Rebekah Snyder, Jeanna Martinucci and Kim Mikus. Music from Soundstripe. Cicada audio copyright Dr. Gene Kritsky and SongsOfInsects.com. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto.

Have questions or comments? Send them to ⁠WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org⁠.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

Episode cover art © Samantha Gallagher

Host Brett Peto is here with a bite-sized piece of good news.

Music:

Swoop by The Mini Vandals
Trail of Breadcrumbs by Lyle Workman

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

We’re back with a new short-form episode.

It’s tempting to hibernate during winter. But there are good reasons to get outside. Your preserves are home to many winter activities, including sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and, yeah, good ol’ walking.

We aren’t the first generations to discover the loads of fun these activities provide, though. Drawing from the Dunn Museum’s collection and archives, Museum Educator Nicole Stocker is here to give us a snapshot of how Lake County residents enjoyed winter outdoors in the past.

Music:
Covid Come Not Near by Nat Keefe & Hot Buttered Rum
Everything Where it Needs to Be by Nat Keefe & Hot Buttered Rum
Swoop by The Mini Vandals
The Slow Rabbit by Nat Keefe & Hot Buttered Rum

Got an idea or a question for our podcast team? Email us at WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.