Lake Co. pets & 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. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Oct. 23

Alpaca Owners and Breeders: 9 a.m. to 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.

FIV informational session: 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Save-A-Pet Adoption Center, 31664 N. Fairfield Road, Grayslake. Learn about Feline immunodeficiency virus and dispel the myths and rumors associated with it. Call (847) 740-7788 or visit save-a-pet-il.org.

Open Horse Show: Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, Fox Creek Stable, 23815 Milton Road, Wauconda. For details, visit foxcreekstable.com or call Dee Lehnig, at (847) 540-0083.

Pet massage class: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, South Barrington Park District, 3 Tennis Club Lane, South Barrington. Licensed massage therapist Liz Weatherton teaches the basics of massage for your dog. Dogs must be 1 year or older; people must be 16 and over. $30-$40. (847) 381-7515 or sbpb.net.

Forest Preserve restoration workdays: 9 a.m. to noon, Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, and Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods, and noon to 2 p.m. Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, Saturday, Oct. 24. In honor of National NeighborWoods Month, Lake County Forest Preserves will host 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.

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. 26

Nature and Science Exploration Day: 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, Vernon Hills Regional Service Center, 650 N. Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. State Rep. Carol Sente invites area children to attend a Community Nature and Science Exploration Day. Zookeepers will bring various animals for the children to view; children will be able to participate in bug hunts, lady bug releases, and other hands-on activities, and create "toad abodes" and shoe gardens to take home. For details or to RSVP, call Rep. Sente's constituent office, at (847) 680-5909.

Grayslake Greenery Garden Club: 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, State Bank of the Lakes, 50 Commerce Drive, Grayslake. The Floral designers of "Entwined" in Grayslake will demonstrate fall floral designs and give tips on interesting floral arrangements. All guests are welcome. For details, call Nancy Rinker, at (847) 223-8485 or visit grayslakegreenerygardenclub.org.

Oct. 27

The Science of Climate Change: 6:30-9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, C Wing Auditorium, College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Climate change expert Kent Taylor will give a free presentation using an updated version of the film "An Inconvenient Truth" along with his own research on coral reefs to show the extent to which people have already created a change in climate worldwide. The public is invited to attend the lecture, which is part of a cultural anthropology class. For information, call (847) 543-2047.

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. 2

Lake County Ravines: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, Libertyville Village Hall, 118 W Cook Ave., Libertyville. Lake Country Audubon Society hosts Ken Klick, a senior restoration ecologist, who will provide an overview of the distinctive geologic forces that create Lake County ravines, the plants and animals that flourish there, how urbanization affects ravines and how the Lake County Forest Preserves are restoring the habitats. Chris, (847) 362-5134.

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. 5

South Barrington Garden Club: Thursday, Nov. 5. Annual meeting and dramatization. Carolyn Stein Stillman provides costumed dramatization of "My Book of Flowers" by Grace Kelly. For information, call Anita, (847) 277-7151.

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

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.