Open land is scarce in Arlington Heights, but nature does find its way into the news. Most of the time it's good news and simple stories of interest. We'll keep track of animal sitings and removals, bird migrations, bird flu (Avian flu) news, West Nile virus news and other outdoor news -- from the fun stuff to the hazards.

There are no forest preserves in Arlington Heights, but there is Busse Woods/Ned Brown Forest Preserve (3700 acres in Forest Preserve District of Cook County) directly to the south in Elk Grove Village near Arlington Heights Road and Interstate 90 and Buffalo Creek (387 acres in Lake County Forest Preserves) directly to the north in Buffalo Grove/Long Grove near Arlington Heights Road and Lake Cook Road.

The Arlington Heights Park District has about 66 parks with acres of open land and Lake Arlington (50 acres).

A hawk poses in a tree.

A young hawk had an injured or malformed wing and was sitting still in ...   more »

Hawk ready to launch with its prey -- a rabbit.

The hawk swooped down on rabbit and knocked it unconscious, ...   more »

The male red-winged blackbird, about 8 inches long with red-winged shoulders, is aggressively territorial during nesting season, which runs approximately ...   more »

View Larger Map of West Salem, Mount Carmel, Illinois April 2008 earthquake.

Early morning Friday, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that ...   more »

A fully-grown cougar was shot around 5:30 p.m. Monday near 3422 North Hoyne in the Roscoe neighborhood of Chicago. The ...   more »

Everybody has probably inhaled a whole bug while riding a bike but here a girl ...   more »

Illinois State health officials reported that the number of rabid bats found in Illinois this year is the highest ever: ...   more »

A bronze statue of two white-tailed deer was unveiled Thursday at Cabela's Hoffman Estates.

A bronze sculpture by sculptor Vic ...   more »

An impressive front entrance to Cabela's (minus the bronze statue that has yet to be unveiled).

Just north of Cabela's ...   more »

Roadkill in Texas.

Chupacabra means "goat sucker" and Phylis Canion an experienced African hunter thinks she has found one or ...   more »

An Arlington Heights resident called for help from the police animal warden for a bat in the basement in the ...   more »