Animal ambassadors inspire discovery at Forest Preserve visitor centers

(Photo by Meghan McMahon)

Just like a visit to the zoo can spark curiosity about wildlife and the environment, so, too, can a visit to a Forest Preserve visitor center.

The Forest Preserve’s visitor centers are designed to educate and excite people about Will County’s natural and cultural history. To help accomplish that mission, several visitor centers house live animals — snakes, turtles and more — as a way to invite visitors to learn more about wildlife and the habitats they live in.

“Absolutely everyone loves live animals,” said Angie Trobaugh, the facility supervisor at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook. “They are certainly a gateway, poster children if you will, to begin the tale of the wonders that surround us in our natural environment in Will County.”

As part of The Nature Foundation of Will County’s goals to inspire discovery and bring people and nature together, it has for many years provided funding to care for the Forest Preserve’s animal ambassadors. In 2025, the Foundation will give $2,000 to provide them with food, shelter and veterinary care.

Visitors can meet a trio of reptiles at Plum Creek Nature Center near Beecher, a menagerie of reptiles and amphibians at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook and a quartet of state-endangered Blanding’s turtles at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.  While Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon doesn’t house resident ambassadors, they receive funds to help keep their outdoor bird feeders full to attract our flighty friends.

Regular care for the Forest Preserve’s animal ambassadors is provided by facility staff.  Trobaugh said the animals at Hidden Oaks — a pair of box turtles named Rex and Cera; Creed the snapping turtle; a red-eared slider named Paddlefoot; Maxine the red-footed tortoise; a tiger salamander named Ghillie; and a corn snake named Ramen — are all big eaters, so their refrigerator is stocked with all manner of animal foods, including various fruits and vegetables, worms, fish and mice.

As a general rule, the animal ambassadors get veterinary checkups annually, Trobaugh said. “But like us, sometimes they need to be seen more often. They can get sick or be under the weather, and we’d always rather err on the side of caution and be ahead of the game when it comes to the health of our animals.”

“The educational value of these animals includes the opportunity for impromptu discussions with our visitors about their species, characteristics, traits, adaptations for survival, habitats and conservation,” said Kelly Huschart, an interpretive naturalist at Plum Creek Nature Center, where resident reptiles Bluey the blue-tongued skink; Penny the ball python; and Lilo the eastern box turtle reside.

Huschart said the reptiles at Plum Creek are used as an education point not just for nature center visitors but also in field trips and public programs. In fact, the Hands-on Herpetology field trip available at Plum Creek was specifically designed to be used with the resident animal ambassadors a way to bring the educational lesson to life.

“By meeting Bluey, Penny and Lilo, we hope to show our visitors that reptiles are animals not to be feared and have important roles in nature,” Huschart said.

At a recent Talking Turtles and Tortoises program led by Trobaugh at Hidden Oaks, participants got an up-close look at Maxine, Paddlefoot, Rex and Cera. Through an interactive true-or-false quiz, the group of all ages learned about their diets; how they smell; and how they breathe in water. The program culminated with feeding time! Younger participants were given a chance to offer strawberries, leafy greens and worms for the turtles and tortoise to feast on.

Throughout the program, Trobaugh responded to enthusiastic questions about the different animals and their behaviors while protecting the stars of the show

“Ultimately, we want what’s best for all of our animal ambassadors, so we keep stressors to a minimum,” Trobaugh said, adding that they enjoy being able to showcase the animals in programming when it’s appropriate. “Some of them appreciate being handled more than others, so we go with that.”

Keeping the animals happy and healthy makes it easier for them to shine in their ambassador roles, which they fulfill in many different ways.