The Home of Chonkasaurus
The Wild Mile is a unique floating oasis in the Chicago River that can be enjoyed by all members of the community — and we mean all! From scientists to birders and now famous internet snapping turtles, we have had plenty of activity at park this spring and have much more to come.
Who is Chonkasaurus?
Photo credit: Joey Santore
Meet Chonkasaurus, the beloved internet sensation—a notably plump snapping turtle captivating fans worldwide. It all began when renowned content creator Joey Santore, widely known as “Crime Pays Botany Doesn’t,” shared the remarkable sighting of Chonk basking on river pilings just a short paddle away from the Wild Mile boardwalk. Since then, Chonk’s fame has skyrocketed, garnering attention from prestigious publications such as the New York Times, People Magazine, BBC, NPR, and CBS, among others. This delightful local celebrity has captured the hearts of animal enthusiasts everywhere.
Most Chonkasaurus fans react with surprise upon learning that the star was spotted in the waterways of a major urban area like Chicago, some assuming that sightings like this must be very rare. Here at Urban Rivers, however, we know otherwise. Common snapping turtles like Chonk have been spotted regularly at the Wild Mile for years. Last year, a pair were even seen breeding just a few feet away from the boardwalk. Chonkasaurus and his hefty homeboys are living proof that urban waterways defy expectations, allowing wildlife to survive and thrive right alongside human infrastructure.
While these turtles are resilient, there is currently a bill proposed in Illinois that will make it legal to trap them without discrimination. You can learn more about Illinois Senate Bill 1890 (SB1890) and voice your opposition to protect turtles like Chonk and other species across the state.
Open for Research
The application of artificial floating wetlands and other river based re-wilding strategies are largely understudied in heavily urbanized ecosystems. In addition to lack of access being a chronic issue across many urban waterways, doing research can be an arduous and resource intensive process.
At Urban Rivers, we aim to alleviate these issues by acting as an open center for river research. We provide expertise, guidance, access, equipment and more to enable researchers to conduct quality research that will help advance the goals of our organization and better understand how to most effectively reclaim industrialized waterways. Research conducted at the Wild Mile and across our other sites are key in developing a body of knowledge by which cities across the world can invite wildlife and people back to bodies of water that have been the center of societies for centuries.
Our research efforts include both in-house studies (such as BURP, the Bugs in Urban Rivers Program), collaborations across institutions and disciplines, and support for others to pursue their own focus areas. We have worked with institutions and universities as large as the Shedd Aquarium and Illinois State University, to those as small as individual undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students.
Interested in starting your own research project or research partnership with us? Submit a brief proposal at urbanriv.org/submit-a-research-proposal
100th Bird Bash
On April 29, we kicked off the spring programming season with our 100th Bird Bash — a celebration of the diversity of avian wildlife that have been spotted at the Wild Mile. In our effort to find the 100th species of bird, we were so successful that we actually found two! The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (#100) and the Northern Waterthrush (#101).
It was a beautiful day for bird watching with the Chicago Ornithological Society and for sipping free beer from Solemn Oath Brewery. Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us.
As the Wild Mile continues to grow, who knows how many more birds we may find?
Wild Mile Summer Workshops are Back!
Our popular summer workshop series is back starting in June. Every Thursday evening in June through September, we host a different community-led workshop on the Wild Mile boardwalk covering a skill or knowledge in science, arts, trades and more to connect people with the Chicago River in new and exciting ways.
Last year we hosted workshops featuring drawing, yoga, bat research, bugs, birds, dance and more! This year we plan to offer many new topics, as well as return some fan favorites.
All workshops are free and open to the public, and all ages are welcome! Check out the June schedule below. Workshop schedules are posted near the beginning of each month, so be sure to keep an eye out for future announcements on our social media or at https://www.urbanriv.org/events
Visit the Wild Mile
Even when there isn’t a program, the Wild Mile is open to all to visit! Head to UrbanRiv.org/visit to see where our latest installations are resting, where to enter the floating boardwalk, launch a kayak, rent a boat, or spot some turtles (sunny days only, of course). Check in for the latest developments and the best ways to see all the sights the Wild Mile has to offer!