There are many birds in the area. Depending upon the season you may see ducks, geese and shorebirds. As the seasons change these birds go through spring and fall migrations resulting in a constantly changing collection of local birds. The Cook County Nature Center also sets up a variety of bird watching activities and what they call "Early Morning Bird Walks" to celebrate and see a wide variety of birds that live in the area including hawks and owls.
There is an elk herd enclosed within a 14-acre preserve at Arlington Heights and Higgins Roads. Elk can be up to 5 feet tall and that's only measuring to the shoulder. They are one of the largest land mammals in North America. Weighing in at up to 700 pounds, elk are majestic to behold. Visitors can enjoy seeing these animals close-up and learn about what they eat and how they live. If you are lucky, you'll see a male elk with large antlers (which they shed each year) engaging in sparring with another male; this activity takes place during mating season.
Many white tailed deer live in the area as well. Easy to recognize because of the white around their throat, eyes, stomachs and the undersides of their tales, these deer can weigh up to 300 pounds. These herbivores eat nuts, corn and the buds of woody plants, depending upon the season. White-tailed deer are not found in the western states like California and Utah and remain primarily east of the Rocky Mountains. For travelers from the West, therefore, this animal is a site to be seen.
Beavers may be found in the forest preserve and you can often sense their presence by gnawed stumps and wood. They have flat tails and are famous for creating natural dams that can be seen on the river and stream trails throughout the preserve. These dams are actually an important part of wetland creation and frequently result in rich habitats for a variety of species including fish, birds, turtles and frogs.
Finally, in the waters of the preserve, there are many types of fish including bass, walleye and northern pike. The northern pike does especially well in the area because of the natural spawning areas created on the edges of the banks of the lakes in the preserve. Fishing is not uncommon in the area and there are restrictions placed upon the size of the fish one may legally take home.
