Lake Co. pets and nature
Events that involve pets and other animals, plants and nature, such as pet washes, adoption days, nature walks, microchipping, nature photography exhibits, nature tours, bird walks, calls for volunteers for nature-related work days, etc. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.
Oct. 17
Fall Color Walk: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, on Palatine Road, one mile west of Barrington Road, Barrington. See fall colors on this 60-minute hike. Free. (847) 381-6592.
Plant a Pumpkin workshop: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Knupper Nursery and Landscape, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Plant up hollowed out pumpkin with colorful annuals. Knupper's provides everything you need including the pumpkin, potting soil and flowers. $25. Bring gloves. Register at (847) 359-1080.
Oct. 18
Raptor Sunday: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Meet the great horned and screech owls, a peregrine falcon and broad-wigned hawk. Kids have a chance to dissect owl pellets. Bring a camera. $5 per car. (847) 428-6957
RottOberfest: 11 .m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, Central Park, 1519 St. Paul Ave., Gurnee. Charity fundraising event sponsored by True Hearts of Rottweiler Rescue includes silent auction, raffles, rescue parade, dog dress up game, musical squares, obstacle course and awards. $10. (847) 302-60 51 or thorr.org.
Native Seed Gardeners seed drives: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; 3:30-5 p.m. Sundays, Citizens for Conservation headquarters, 459 W. Highway 22, Lake Barrington. Volunteers collect seeds from natural populations in the Barrington area. Visit NativeSeedGardeners.org.
Pet Blessing: At the 10 a.m. service, Oct. 18, Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church, 5725 Stearns School Road, Gurnee. Bring an item for the Pooch Pantry and have a pet blessed. Gift cards for PetSmart, Petco & Pet Supplies Plus are also accepted and used primarily for the purchase of cat litter. For details, visit annunciationgurnee.org or call (847) 336-3730
Oct. 21
The Unhuggables: 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. See bats, snakes and spiders in a hands-on family program. To register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Oct. 23
Alpaca Owners and Breeders: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24, Lake Country Fairgrounds, 1060 Peterson Road, Libertyville. Eighth annual Alpaca Extravaganza. Free. For information, call (847) 279-8850 Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Oct. 24
Twilight Wildlife Hike: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Take an evening hike or sharpen your senses to the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors. Campfire and s'mores included. For ages 6 and older. Free. Reservations to (847) 428-6957
Citizens for Conservation: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 459 W. Highway 22, Barrington. Make a Difference Day activities include, native plants seed collection. (847) 382-7283.
Oct. 25
Festive Fall Decorations:: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Sue Kowall and Sue Allman help you design a centerpiece or door decoration featuring bittersweet, grapevine wreaths and a other colorful products from Mother Nature. Free for members; $8 for nonmembers. (847) 428-6957
Owls, Bats and Spiders: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, on Palatine Road, one mile west of Barrington Road, Barrington. Dissect an owl pellet, listen to bat call and meet a spider up close. Free, registration required. (847) 381-6592.
Oct. 31
Putting Your Garden to Bed: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Knupper Nursery and Landscape, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Tips on preparing you garden for winter. Learn which perennials to cut back and which to leave for winter interest. Advice on pruning, mulching and preparing and protecting perennials and roses for winter. (847) 359-1080.
Nov. 3
Four Seasons Garden Club: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Don Guzman hosts an informative an interesting presentation on native infusion landscaping. Alena, (847) 438-3981or alenagust@comcast.net.
Nov. 25
Agility classes: Begins 7 p.m. Nov. 25, Agility Junkies, 22N073 Pepper Road, Lake Barrington. Class for beginners. (847) 381-2222 or agilityjunkies.com.
Dec. 6
Yule Log Open House: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Make a festive seasonal decoration our of natural materials. Kids are welcome, but no scout groups. Free for members; $5 per log for nonmembers. For reservations, (847) 428-6957
Jan. 1
New Year's Day walk: 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, Barrington. Walk along Stillman's trails. Ages 10 and over. Free. (847) 428-6957
Ongoing
Forest Preserve restoration workdays: 9 a.m. to noon, weekends. In honor of National NeighborWoods Month, Lake County Forest Preserves will host a series of workdays designed to bring volunteers together to save Lake County's natural areas. For information, call Tom Smith, at (847) 968-3329, or e-mail tasmith
• Saturday, Oct. 17, Almond Marsh in Grayslake, Grainger Woods Preserve in Mettawa, Grant Woods and McDonald Woods in Lake Villa, and at the Lake Bluff site.
• Sunday, Oct. 18, Berkeley Prairie in Highland Park, Buffalo Creek in Buffalo Grove, Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and Heron Creek in Long Grove.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, and Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods.
• Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa.
Bird Seed Sale: Prepaid orders must be received by 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1; seed may be picked up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, behind the visitor center at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. Eleven varieties of bird seed are available. Proceeds help to support habitat restoration, education and other activities sponsored by the Friends of Volo Bog at the Illinois State Natural Area. Order forms are available at FriendsofVoloBog.org at the visitor center, or at (815) 344-1294.
Pooch Pantry: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Lake County Animal Control, 29278 N. Highway 83, Mundelein. Accepting donations of dry and canned dog and cat food, treats and domestic bird food; gift cards for PetSmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus; cat litter; resealable plastic bags; and pet welfare goods such as bowls and toys. The Pooch Pantry will be open for families in need from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For information, call (847) 566-1960.
Puppy Playtime: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Doggy Day Camp, Inc., 21212 W. Commercial Drive, Mundelein. Puppies 10 weeks to 6 months of age with proof of vaccinations can play with other puppies for free in a safe, off-leash environment. Puppies must be in good health and free from any contagious diseases within the past 30 days. Advance registration is required. For information, call (847) 970-6777 or visit DoggyDayCampInc.com.
Native Seed Gardeners seed drives: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays and 3:30-5 p.m. Sundays, Citizens for Conservation headquarters, 459 W. Highway 22, Lake Barrington. Volunteers collect seeds from natural populations in the Barrington area. Visit NativeSeedGardeners.org.