Spooky Season at the Wild Mile 🧛
Howl-oween, blood-sucking mussels, and more!
Gone to Seed!
Summer is coming to a close, and our native plants have started going to seed! Wetland species display a wide range of seed dispersal techniques, using wind, water, animals, and bursting force to spread their genetic material. Many of the seeds produced by our wetlands will enter the watershed’s broader ecosystem, likely taking root further downstream. We’ll also be collecting some seeds to use in our educational work for the next year!
Fall Events on the Wild Mile
The weather is cooling down, but we still want to see you all outside on the Wild Mile! Our year-round programs include monthly walking tours, S’mores nights, and volunteer socials. The Wild Mile will also be hosting partner events, including a dance workshop and multiple musical performances. Check out our website to stay up to date on our events and programs (or scroll to the end of this newsletter for a calendar)!
Join us for Howl-oween!
Join us on the Wild Mile for a canine-themed extravaganza, and bring your furry friends! Our second annual Howl-oween will feature a dog costume contest, so put together your most outlandish costumes and prepare for some festive competition! Last year we were visited by a spotted lantern fly, escaped convict, a sushi roll, and many more contenders. Cats are welcome as well, but unbiased judging can not be guaranteed. All non-human animals must be on leash!
No pet? No problem! Come sip some apple cider and learn about seasonal ecology, including urban coyotes, from our knowledgable staff and volunteers. We’ll also have candy available for Trick-or-Treaters, so bring the whole family!
Exact date to be announced soon!
Tiny Vampires of the River
Last December, we collected five gravid female Giant Floater mussels from stretches of natural river surrounding Chicago. Freshwater mussels have a unique lifecycle, including a developmental phase in which they parasitize fish, sucking blood from their gills until they become large enough to live and feed on their own. For the past eight months, our partners of the DuPage County Forest Preserves Urban Stream Research Center have been raising up our baby mussels. Now, these little vampires are finally old enough to be transplanted into the Wild Mile’s submerged habitats! As they grow, these 200+ new residents will filter the river via their natural feeding behavior, increasing water clarity and reducing pollution.
October Events Calendar
We have lots of cool events happening in October! Event descriptions and RSVP links can always be found on the events page of our website.
DePaul German Club House Music Night: October 11th, 4 - 7:00pm [Partner Event]
I Guess So live on the Wild Mile: October 12th, 4 - 6:00pm [Partner Event]
Wild Mile Walking Tour: October 16th, 5:30 - 6:00pm
Wild Mile S’mores Night: October 16th, 6 - 7:30pm
River Ranger Social: October 17th, 6 - 7:30pm (Off Color Brewing)
CatJam Chicago Jam Session: October 23rd, 7 - 10:00pm
The Art of Being: Move with Waterway at the Wild Mile - Windflow Dance with Ayako: October 27th, 1 - 3:00pm [Partner Event]
Howl-oween - Canine Costume Parade and Fall Extravaganza: DATE TBA
Feminist Bird Club Dusk Bird Sit: November 1st, 5:30 - 7:30 [Partner Event]
Office Insights
How Many Miatas?
You can tell a lot about a person from the type of car they drive. Specifically, whether or not they own a Mazda Miata. That’s why we asked our entire staff how many Miatas they’ve ever owned!
Phil: “Zero. I’ve never owned a Miata before. I never even thought of it as a car that existed. My first car was a Mitsubishi Galant. 8 cylinders. That thing can really rip into the highway”
Sage: “Zero. But my dad has owned at least three. Me personally, I would never cheat on my Subaru Crosstrek”
Maya: “Zero” [no further commentary, even when pressed]
Nick: “Two. Almost four. There was a Spec Miata that someone built - everything was upgraded, but the guy couldn’t get it working right so he was selling it for cheap. Then there was another one in Wisconsin that was entirely wrapped in the Union Jack. God, it was a peach. Someone else bought them both first.”
Bubba: “Nineteen. Flipping Miatas was actually my main gig before joining Urban Rivers. When I’m behind the wheel of a Miata, I just feel so connected to nature… especially the geese. Don’t tell Nick, but I’m the one who beat him to the Union Jack. I keep it in an alley behind the PetCo. That baby is my pride and joy.”