Check out the Forest Preserve's Mammal Madness on March 2 in Channahon

How much do you know about your fellow mammals, especially those that might be out and about while you’re snuggled in bed and snoozing?

Probably not as much as you think, and that’s why the Forest Preserve District is beefing up this year’s Mammal Madness event at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

The free, family-friendly fun fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. The all-ages event will feature two, one-hour live animal presentations by Big Run Wolf Ranch at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The presentations will provide a good opportunity to view a live Canada lynx, porcupine, skunk and opossum. The Virginia opossum and striped skunk are local to Will County; the porcupine and federally threatened Canada lynx live in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

This year’s event will have an expanded Mammalypics station along the outdoor trails where families can put their skills to the test against those of wild animals.

A hands-on room will feature interactive games, furs and bones. There will be a self-guided hike with information about Will County mammals. Visitors can create animal masks in a craft area. And there will be an outdoor s’mores station while supplies last.

Past Mammal Madness programs have been well attended, but this year, the Forest Preserve decided to expand the event to provide even more information and activities.

“We loved helping our visitors create a connection between themselves and the wild mammals in Will County, " said Alexis Lyons, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers. "We want to build even stronger connections this year.”

Mammal Madness is designed to celebrate the many mammal species that live in Will County.

“We are hoping that visitors will discover at least one new mammal that lives nearby and find something new to appreciate about a mammal they can see in their backyard,” Lyons explained.
Information will be provided on some of the lesser-known mammals in Will County, too.

“We’re highlighting the 13-lined ground squirrel, the least weasel and the bobcat," said Jess McQuown, a program manager at Four Rivers. "Each of these animals are secretive, so people can live in Will County and go their whole lives not knowing they have these animals as neighbors.”

Mammal Madness is supported by funding from Alliance Pipeline, a joint venture of Enbridge and Pembina, and through the assistance of The Nature Foundation of Will County.

For more information, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.