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Words of the Woods

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by Lake County Forest Preserves

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Words of the Woods is a show about nature and history. Written and hosted by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves, it tells local stories about big topics. Season 3 focuses on climate change. While it's a global issue, many of its effects—along with opportunities to help mitigate and prevent them—are local. This season, Brett explores how climate change affects your forest preserves. How wildlife and plants may be adapting. And what the Forest Preserves is doing to make Lake County more climate-resilient.

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Recent Episodes

April 22, 2026

Special Edition: Take Flight

At first light, a wetland at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/rollins-savanna/">Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve</a> in Grayslake stirs to life.<a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird">Red-winged blackbirds</a> trumpet conk-la-REE-look-at-ME songs from swaying cattails. <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck">Wood ducks</a> tip forward to eat plants below the water’s surface, rear ends bobbing in the air.A <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron">great blue heron </a>stands motionless onshore, amber-yellow eyes searching the shallows for tasty fish. The fresh smells of spring drift on a casual breeze as the landscape comes alive.<a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/birds">Birdwatching</a> gives you front-row seats to these compelling scenes, especially in Lake County.Forest Preserves Mentioned:<ul><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/des-plaines-river-trail/">Des Plaines River Trail</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/fort-sheridan/">Fort Sheridan</a> (Lake Forest)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/things-to-do/recreation/marinas/fox-river-marina/">Fox River Marina</a> (Port Barrington)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/general-offices/">General Offices</a> (Libertyville)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/greenbelt-cultural-center/">Greenbelt Cultural Center</a> (North Chicago)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/ig/">Independence Grove</a> (Libertyville)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/independence-grove-visitors-center/">Visitors Center</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/rollins-savanna">Rollins Savanna</a> (Grayslake)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/ryerson/">Ryerson Conservation Area</a> (Riverwoods)</li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/ryerson/welcome-center/">Ryerson Welcome Center</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/van-patten-woods/">Van Patten Woods</a> (Wadsworth)</li></ul> Selected Links and Sources:<ul><li>“2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation,” <a href="https://www.fws.gov/media/2022-national-survey-fishing-hunting-and-wildlife-associated-recreation">U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service</a></li><li>Barred owl, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/overview">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a></li><li><a href="https://issuu.com/lcfpd/docs/birdwatching_checklist">Birdwatching Checklist</a></li><li><a href="https://issuu.com/lcfpd/docs/birdwatching_guide">Birdwatching Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/things-to-do/recreation/birdwatching/">Birdwatching resources</a></li><li>Blue jay, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay">Cornell</a></li><li>Dark-eyed junco, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/overview">Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://ebird.org/home">Ebird</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">Every Acre Strong</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/calendar/?F_c=1214">Forest Preserves calendar</a></li><li>Global Big Day, <a href="https://ebird.org/globalbigday">Cornell</a></li><li>Great blue heron, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron">Cornell</a></li><li>Great egret, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret">Cornell</a></li><li>Great horned owl, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/overview">Cornell</a></li><li>Green-winged teal, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-winged_Teal">Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">Horizons subscriptions</a></li><li><a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/">iNaturalist</a></li><li>Macaulay Library, <a href="https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/">Cornell</a></li><li>Mexican violetear, <a href="https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grnvie1/cur/introduction">Cornell</a></li><li>Mississippi Flyway, <a href="https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways">U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service</a></li><li>Northern cardinal, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal">Cornell</a></li><li>Purple martin, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Purple_Martin">Cornell</a></li><li>Red-winged blackbird, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird">Cornell</a></li><li>Rose-breasted grosbeak, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rose-breasted_Grosbeak">Cornell</a></li><li>Short-eared owl, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Short-eared_Owl">Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">Spring 2026 Horizons</a></li><li>Tree swallow, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow">Cornell</a></li><li>Virginia rail, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Virginia_Rail/overview">Cornell</a></li><li>Wood duck, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck">Cornell</a></li><li>Yellow warbler, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Yellow_Warbler">Cornell</a></li></ul>If you like what the forest preserves do for you, please consider donating to <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">the Preservation Foundation’s Every Acre Strong campaign for the Forest Preserves</a>. Your gift will help create a $20 million endowment to protect the forest preserves you love, ensuring every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Forever. Learn more and give at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">LCFPD.org/endowment</a>.Subscribe to Horizons at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">LCFPD.org/horizons</a>.Have questions or comments? Send them to <a href="mailto:WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org">WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org</a>.This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Jen Berlinghof, Nan Buckardt, Eileen Davis, Samantha Gallagher, Gary Glowacki, Mark Hurley, Matt Ueltzen and Pati Vitt.We used the following recordings from the <a href="https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/">Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library</a> with permission:ML22874ML22997ML26295ML86626ML100740ML100838ML107435ML125364ML134193ML136434ML229102ML43973911ML57524601ML93737501ML95908491ML96661961ML96855351ML159180221ML211060291ML241076151ML261929461Other sound effects and music from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto. Cover art illustration © Samantha Gallagher.Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake CountyForest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

February 4, 2026

Special Edition: What a Hoot

Winter is a sleepy time in <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/">your Lake County Forest Preserves.</a> Many songbirds have flown south. Snow drifts sand the edges off the landscape. But now is when Lake County’s three resident owl species warm up their voices for breeding season. “As the mercury drops, owl courtship heats up,” said Education Site Specialist Jen Berlinghof. Four more owl species are winter visitors. Let’s learn the hoots of all seven owls. Forest Preserves Mentioned:<ul><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/fort-sheridan/">Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (LakeForest)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/lyons-woods/">Lyons Woods Forest Preserve(Waukegan)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/old-school/">Old School Forest Preserve (Mettawa)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/pine-dunes/">Pine Dunes Forest Preserve (Antioch)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/rollins-savanna">Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve(Grayslake)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/lakewood/">Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve (Wauconda)</a></li></ul> Selected Links and Sources:<ul><li><a href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/24/snowy-owls-spotted-near-montrose-bird-sanctuary-drawing-crowds-to-lakefront/">“As Snowy Owls Hang Out Near Montrose Bird Sanctuary, City Limits Access to Area,” Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl">Barred owl, Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a></li><li><a href="https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/24/chicago-park-district-limits-access-snowy-owls-citing-safety-concerns-here-s-what-know">“Chicago Park District Limits Access to Snowy Owls, Citing Safety Concerns. Here’s What to Know About the Arctic Visitors,” Patty Wetli, WTTW News</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/overview">Eastern screech owl, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">Every Acre Strong</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/calendar">Forest Preserves calendar</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/overview">Great horned owl, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">Horizons subscriptions</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-eared_Owl">Long-eared owl, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/">Macaulay Library, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/lincoln-park-montrose-point-bird-sanctuary">Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Chicago Park District</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl">Northern saw-whet owl, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoParkDistrict/posts/pfbid0a9gWiZvPDHtUdUatgdeeacn8BMkDkeTy2sHHZ9VDgiVYUJge43Avj369qGAzFnpdl">“Please Give a Hoot,” Chicago Park District</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Short-eared_Owl">Short-eared owl, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl">Snowy owl, Cornell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/things-to-do/recreation/winter-sports/solar-lit-trails/">Solar-lit trails</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ttbook.org/interview/utterly-unlike-other-birds-inscrutable-brilliance-owls">“‘Utterly unlike other birds’: The inscrutable brilliance of owls,” Shannon Henry Kleiber, To the Best of our Knowledge</a></li><li><a href="https://issuu.com/lcfpd/docs/horizons_quarterly_winter_2025/14">“What a Hoot: Listening for Owls,” Winter 2025 Horizons</a></li><li><a href="https://www.jenniferackermanauthor.com/what-an-owl-knows">“What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds,” Jennifer Ackerman</a></li><li><a href="https://www.projectsnowstorm.org/what-is-an-irruption/">“What is an irruption?”, Project SNOWstorm</a></li></ul> *** If you like what the forest preserves do for you, please consider donating to <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">the Preservation Foundation’s Every Acre Strong campaign for the Forest Preserves</a>. Your gift will help create a $20 million endowment to protect the forest preserves you love, ensuring every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Forever. Learn more and give at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">LCFPD.org/endowment</a>. Subscribe to Horizons at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">LCFPD.org/horizons</a>. Have questions or comments? Send them to <a href="mailto:WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org">WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org</a>. This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Jen Berlinghof and Jennifer Ackerman. We used the following recordings from the <a href="https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/">Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library</a>: ML22873ML22874ML30889ML48901ML100704ML100705ML100706ML125365ML125371ML137503ML138288ML612361421 Other sound effects and music from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto. Episode cover art photo © Justine Neslund. Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

October 15, 2025

Special Edition: Night Shift

When you settle into bed for the evening, another world awakens. Flying squirrels launch between trees, bats emerge from roosts and owls begin their silent hunts. <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/places-to-go/preserves-trails/">Your Lake County Forest Preserves</a> provide the food, water, shelter and darkness these animals need during their night shifts. Despite their abundance and proximity, our nocturnal neighbors can seem mysterious. The dark obscures their unique activities. Let’s peek behind the curtain. Selected Links and Sources:<ul><li><a href="https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bat-gardens-houses/">“Bat Gardens & Houses,” Bat Conservation International</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wildaboutmammalsbats.html">Bats, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bats-101/">“Bats 101,” Bat Conservation International</a></li><li><a href="https://lakecountynature.com/2020/07/27/behind-the-bandit-mask/">“Behind the bandit mask,” Lake County Nature Blog</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutsalamanders/wasbluespottedsalamander.html">Blue-spotted salamander, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chiroptera/">“Chiroptera,” Animal Diversity Web</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wildaboutmammalscarnivores/wawmcoyote.html">Coyote, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://darksky.org/get-involved/home-lighting-assessment/">“DarkSky’s Home Outdoor Lighting Assessment,” DarkSky International</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutsalamanders/waseasterntigersalamander.html">Eastern tiger salamander, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bats/echolocation.htm">“Echolocation,” National Park Service</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">Every Acre Strong</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">Horizons subscriptions</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutinvertebrates/wildaboutmoths.html">Illinois moths, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://issuu.com/lcfpd/docs/horizons_quarterly_fall_2025/3">“Night Shift: Lake County’s Nocturnal Animals,” Fall 2025 Horizons</a></li><li><a href="https://lakecountynature.com/2017/03/31/skunk-stories/">“Skunk stories,” Lake County Nature Blog</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wildaboutmammalsrodents/wawmsouthernflyingsquirrel.html">Southern flying squirrel, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aar7121">“The influence of human disturbance on wildlife nocturnality,” Science</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wildaboutmammalsfurbearers/wawmvirginiaopossum.html">Virginia opossum, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/">White-nose Syndrome Response Team</a></li><li><a href="https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wawmwhitetaileddeer.html">White-tailed deer, IDNR</a></li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2008/10/31/96414364/why-do-animals-eyes-glow-in-the-dark">“Why do animals’ eyes glow in the dark?”, NPR</a></li></ul> *** If you like what the forest preserves do for you, please considerdonating to <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">the Preservation Foundation’s Every Acre Strong campaign for the Forest Preserves</a>. Your gift will help create a $20 million endowment to protect the forest preserves you love, ensuring every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Forever. Learn more and give at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/preservation-foundation/endowment-fund/">LCFPD.org/endowment</a>. Subscribe to Horizons at <a href="https://www.lcfpd.org/horizons/">LCFPD.org/horizons</a>. Have questions or comments? Send them to <a href="mailto:WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org">WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org</a>. This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Jim Grego and Dan Sandacz. Scriptediting by Jeanna Martinucci, Kim Mikus and Rebekah Snyder. Music and sound effects from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto. Episode cover art © Joe McDonald / <a href="https://www.hoothollow.com/">McDonald Wildlife Photography</a>.Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.

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Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is Words of the Woods?: Words of the Woods is a show about nature and history. Written and hosted by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves, it tells local stories about big topics. Season 3 focuses on climate change.

While it's a global issue, many of its effects—along with opportunities to help mitigate and prevent them—are local.

This season, Brett explores how climate change affects your forest preserves. How wildlife and plants may be adapting. And what the Forest Preserves is doing to make Lake County more climate-resilient.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates weekly.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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