Village Voice
Why Plant Natives
WHY PLANT NATIVESNative plants are those that occur naturally in the region in which they evolved. Without them and the insects that co-evolved with them, local birds cannot survive. For example, research by the entomologist Doug Tallamy has shown that native oak...
Ticks & Mosquitoes – Be Careful Out There
According to a May 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites have tripled in the U.S. from 2004 through 2016. The report states that, since many infections are not recognized or reported, it’s...
Things You Might Not Know About Whitetail Deer
Riverwoods residents share their gardens and roadways with whitetail deer, but it’s been left to hunters and researchers to come up with some amazing facts about these sometimes problematic neighbors. Such as:Eating Habits – Depending on what’s available throughout...
STYROFOAM – INITIAL BOON, CURRENT NIGHTMARE
In 1941 a Dow Chemical Company engineer invented a new material made of polystyrene, which was trademarked by Dow as “Styrofoam.” Although most people refer to all polystyrene products as “Styrofoam,” actual Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene foam have somewhat...
Stink Bugs – Harrowing News
Of the approximately 250 species of stink bugs in North America, the most common, the most destructive, and the one most likely to show up indoors is the brown marmorated (marbled) stink bug (BMSB). In the late ‘90s, the BMSB was accidentally introduced from Asia into...
ALIENS – A SCARY STORY (You provide the happy ending…)
Imagine that one morning you walked into your kitchen for breakfast and discovered that all your food was unfamiliar. In the refrigerator, in the cupboards, everywhere you looked, you found food that looked similar to what you usually ate, but that tasted and smelled...
ALTERNATIVE DE-ICING STRATEGIES FOR WINTER
Snow and ice, along with the use of de-icers, promise to be regular occurrences in the upcoming months. While preservation issues dictate many aspects of Riverwoods life, icy streets, driveways and sidewalks need to be treated to because they can be dangerous. To...
Water, Water Everywhere…Really?
Traditionally, those of us fortunate enough to live near the shores of Lake Michigan, or in the once-glacial areas of Illinois and Wisconsin, have seen water as a bountiful source of both life and pleasure. With this essential but diminishing resource we have:...
Living With Mosquitoes
According to the South Lake Mosquito Abatement District (SLMAD), this year the 18 traps positioned strategically in the District captured floodwater mosquitoes, which don’t spread disease. The only West Nile positives in the North Shore area in 2018 were from...
Protesting Pollinators While Controlling Mosquitoes
Bees are among the most beneficial of insects, and studies indicate they are declining in alarming numbers. Without this essential pollinator many of our flowers, fruits and vegetables will be threatened. For that reason questions often arise regarding the effect...