Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting
May 10, 2022

• Today’s meeting took place in the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, which works on connections between communities and the Forest Preserve. Aside from many trails, exhibits and animals, the center has moonwalks and stargazing, and has recently added many Spanish language programs.
• The board approved a grant award for improvements to several segments of the Des Plaines Trail. A $9.1M grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Federal Transportation Alternative Program goes towards more than five miles of trails that will be rerouted and rebuilt. (22-0223, 22-0224, 22-0225)
• Public comments centered again on the wish to move the Coyote living at River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook to a Wildlife Sanctuary in Colorado. 

Observer: Amber L Elmer

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting 
April 5, 2022

Almost the whole first hour of the meeting was Public Comments: 

• The first 7 public speakers spoke on behalf of the Conservation Corps and importance of continued funding. Speakers shared the value of the Conservation Corps,  Green Corps Chicago Program and Student Conservation Association to educate them on the natural world around them, a safe place to continue learning and careers in conservation.  Several shared their growth as a “larger sense of purpose,”  their feeling of a “sense of duty,” and the value of the natural world to their mental health. One speaker shared that he had been incarcerated and had difficulty getting a job.  Now he has a career. 
• An additional 8 speakers spoke about the coyote ambassador at River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook.  These speakers spoke about “Rocky” the coyote and the environment where it currently resides.  The general request is to have the coyote transferred to a Wildlife Conservation sanctuary in Colorado.  Superintendent Randall spoke about the report due in July regarding this issue and the importance of making decisions based on science, best practices and facts. 

​Board Actions:

• The Commissioners approved contracts increasing the money for the Friends of the Forest Preserves to offer the Career Immersion Program and the North Branch Conservation  Corps Program. The Friends of the Forest Preserves run the Conservation Corp programs.
• The American Rescue Plan Act made money available to the  Forest Preserves to increase this funding. Forest Preserves partner with Audubon Great Lakes, Green Corp, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Forest Preserve Foundation, Student Conservation Association, and Housing Authority of Cook County. The goal of these programs is to work with low income communities - both the people and the land. It also targets people with barriers to employment and without career networks.  All of the programs are paid employment, that offer job training and certifications. Results from these programs indicate 70-100% retention rate and 60-90% of adults able to obtain a job offer after training. 
• Forest Preserve programs and events are ramping up. Events can be found at:      http://www.fpdcc.com/events

Observer:     Laura Davis                                                                           Meeting Length: 1 hour 42 minutes

Forest Preserves District Cook County (FPDCC) Board Meetings 
January 11 and February 8, 2022
River Trail Nature Center Facebook posts January 14 and 27

The Coyote's Story

•  A four year old coyote is housed at River Trail Nature Center (RTNC), Northbrook IL.  In 2018, this coyote was discovered under a house porch in Tennessee.  It was taken to a local animal shelter thinking it was a puppy and stayed there for several weeks, interacting/socializing with humans in preparation to be adopted.  When the shelter realized the animal was a coyote, it was transferred to a TN wildlife rehabilitation facility.  This wildlife facility tried to undo the imprinting as its identity was attached to humans.  Imprinting happens shortly after birth/hatching where the animal fixes its attention on the first object/animal it senses and then follows it, usually in the wild, a parent.  If a very young wild animal is removed from its surroundings, it imprints on humans.  It became apparent that this coyote was too friendly with, attached to, had no fear of and was dependent on humans.  The coyote at RTNC was imprinted and socialized with humans and is unable to survive in the wild.  At this point the RTNC, an animal sanctuary, is the coyote’s family (pack). 
• change.org petition:  this petition was started several months ago by a Northbrook IL resident.  In the petition, the coyote is named “Rocky” whereas animal facilities don’t give wild animals names because they are not pets.  People are asked to sign on to remove “Rocky” from FPDCC’s RTNC and transfer him to the Colorado Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg.  The petition states that at River Trail, the cage enclosure is too small for the large territory a coyote needs to roam in, coyotes need socialization in packs, the animal exhibits stress behavior and it cannot escape human noise.
• In the Jan 11 and Feb 8 FPDCC Board Meeting,  RTNC Facebook postings of Jan 14 and Jan 26, staff addressed  concerns regarding the living conditions of the coyote.  FPDCC acknowledges that this is not an ideal situation for the coyote and realizes all input shows concern for the animal.  The outside cage enclosure meets the IL IDNR and USDA standards and provides shelter from wind and rain.  It contains climbing structures, a platform and a hammock for exploration.  There are three den structures including a hollow log and a kennel where the opening is hidden from public view. The dens are small spaces for the coyote to curl up in and straw and blankets are provided.  The animal has a good coat of fur and is healthy enough to remain outside in the winter.  The enclosure is cleaned daily and at times undergoes deep cleaning.  There are several feedings a day, fresh water and daily enrichment training that includes mental tasks or challenges requiring use of different senses.  The animal’s behaviors are watched and veterinary care provided.  The coyote is not solitary and socializes with humans.  FPDCC staff includes a senior wildlife biologist, a former licensed animal rehabber and staff with zoo experience.
• This coyote is an Ambassador animal, used for educational purposes.  These popular programs are important especially for urban children who do not get the chance to see wild animals native to Cook County. People learn about the lives of animals and learn the importance of protecting wild habitats.  Young children remember these encounters.  The RTNC follows guidelines that apply to the coyote’s care, information taken from the Assoc. of Zoos and Aquariums Ambassador Animal Guidelines.
• FPDCC believes moving the RTNC coyote to the Colorado sanctuary would be very stressful and the move could endanger this male as it does not know how to communicate with or integrate with any coyote pack.  The coyote could face pack rejection from the two established resident packs already in the Colorado sanctuary.   FPDCC believes that since the coyote lives in a stable environment, it would be harmful to remove him. The FPDCC along with Commissioner Scott Britton will review goals/operations of the Nature Centers’ Ambassador animal programs and an update on the process and progress will come in March 2022 as there are no simple and quick answers to this public difference of opinions. 

Observer: Michele Niccolai

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting
September 21, 2021

Board Actions:

• Agenda Item 21-0406  The board passed a resolution in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Chicago Zoological Society, which is the non-profit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserve of Cook County
• 21-0405  The board passed a resolution honoring Dr. Stuart D Strahl on his retirement as President and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society after 18 years. Dr. Strahl participated in the meeting and spoke about the great honor it has been to serve the zoo and community. 
• 21-0427  Resolution passed honoring the life and legacy of Albert Pritchett for his leadership and contributions to numerous Cook County governments. 
• 21-0415  The Forest Preserves’ Palos Preserve region, known as Mt. Forest Island, was officially certified an Urban Night Sky Space. There was some discussion about the significance of this designation by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), as it is the largest designated Urban Night Sky Place in the world. The Adler planetarium collaborated with the Forest Preserve for over 200 hours to make this possible. 
• 21-0430  Calendar of Events approved. Check the Forest Preserve’s website www.fpdcc.com/events for a list of events and activities.
• 21-0391  Ordinance Amendment was approved by the board to allow for remote participation and voting in meetings, as allowed under the Open Meetings Act. A quorum must still be physically present, and the member must give 24 hour notice to the Secretary of the Board for reasons such as personal illness, disability, or family emergency. The ordinance amendment was passed and is effective immediately. 

Observer – Amber L Elmer                               Meeting Length: 2 hours

Cook County Forest Preserve District (FPDCC) Board Meeting
May 11, 2021
Virtual meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m.

The Meeting began with a PowerPoint presentation by John McCabe, Director of Resource Management for the FPDCC on "Poaching - An Invisible Problem".
Highlights of the presentation:  

• Poaching of plants & fungi, wildlife and cultural artifacts is an ongoing problem in the forest preserves.  Hunting, trapping and the taking of any plant/fungi or part of an animal, dead or alive, is illegal. 
• The FPDCC consists of slightly over 69,000 acres which constitutes 11% of the land in Cook County (CC), so any removal of animals or plants takes a toll on populations and robs citizens from seeing pristine areas  Vandalism of cultural artifacts from archaeological sites is also a big problem. 
• 41% of threatened or endangered plant species and 37% of threatened or endangered wildlife in CC have ceased to exist in FPDCC lands.  There are other sensitive wildlife populations with reduced breeding populations. 
• Poachers' wildlife targets are white-tailed deer, snakes, birds, turtles, salamanders, insects.  Plant/fungi targets are leek/wild ramp (type of wild onion), mushrooms, native plants, timber, orchids, berries. 
• The story of a white tail deer with a large set of unique & desirable antlers was presented.  A picture of this animal was posted on social media which sparked people to come to the preserves in case they could pick up the deer's shed antlers, which would be illegal. The FPDCC decided to sedate the animal and remove the antlers and put large, visible GPS tracking tags on the animal to ward off poachers.  A large unique set of antlers can bring $10,000 plus to the seller.  Unfortunately the next season this deer was poached. 
• The FPDCC lands contain over 550 archaeological sites and some sites are dated thousands of years B.C.  Looting of archaeological artifacts is an irreplaceable loss of history.  Professionals use  "shovel testing" (digging up land and sifting through a wire mesh looking for artifacts) and  looters use the same process.
• Social media posting of animals/plants/places in the FPDCC can normalize illegal behavior but could also be used to track offenders.   Posting these pictures can unknowingly provide location data for poachers. 
• Trail Watch is volunteer program for frequent users of the preserves and they undergo training to observe unusual/suspicious behavior- they are an extra set of eyes to alert forest preserve police. 
• The Forest Preserve Police, in addition to safeguarding the public in the preserves, also have extensive training in the protection of the preserves' natural and cultural resources.  When in the preserves any unusual/suspicious behavior can be reported to the police: 708 771 1000 and they will investigate.

The Board adopted a resolution recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. 

• Started in 2014, the FPDCC was a founding member of the Nature, Culture and Human Health Network  (NCH2).  The network's goal is connecting people interested in the health benefits of nature.  
• The FPDCC and NCH2 have created a "Tools 2 Thrive Outside" campaign encouraging outdoor activities as beneficial to mental health.  The website is nch2.org/calendar. 
• Helpful activities are hiking, gardening, birding, volunteering, listening to birds chirping & leaves rustling, feeling the warm sun and breezes, and sensing fresh air and fragrant flowering shrubs.

The Clean Energy Framework was adopted to implement plans to reach the 2030 & 2050 greenhouse gas emissions goals. 

• In January 2019 a resolution was adopted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 
• Purchase of nineteen vehicles for law enforcement, 16 of which are hybrid (two are K-9 equipped), and one hybrid vehicle for the Resource Management Dept support the clean energy goals.  

The calendar for events for 5/11/21 to 6/22 21 was adopted, www.fpdcc.com/events. 

• May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month and events planned are Asian-Pacific traditions related to the moon, a Haiku Walk, and the ancient Japanese are of Gyotaku. 
• Events such as bird walks, virtual watercolor painting, hiking, wildflower walks, & yoga are posted. 
• Learn about snakes, hawks, butterflies, camping,  the moon/lunar eclipse, kites, frogs, animal homes, kayaking/canoeing, shrubs & trees, hummingbirds, bees, fungi, pond life, invasive species, Juneteenth.
  
• "Dinos Everywhere!"  is at Brookfield Zoo- 40 animatronic dinosaurs located throughout the zoo.

Observed by:  Michele Niccolai                                                                   Meeting length:  One hour, 15 minutes