DuPage County To Conduct 24-Hour BioBlitz To Survey Forest Preserves

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens of scientists were preparing for a treasure hunt, of sorts, in the DuPage County forest preserves this weekend.

For the first time in its history, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County was planning an effort to identify as many different types of plants and animals as it can find on its property.

The district has been enlisting scientists to help survey habitats in four preserves, during a 24-hour Centennial BioBlitz between Friday and Saturday evenings. More than 150 scientists will be taking part.

Scott Meister, assistant manager of natural resources for the district, said the teams will be trying to document as many plant, animal, and insect species as they can.

"There's lots of unknown species; especially insects and invertebrates that we've never really documented, because they're so specialized. So we anticipate finding some new species that we've never known to occur in our forest preserves," he said.

Some scientists will work at night, with lights, to attract a variety of bugs, and other invertebrates.

"Other teams will just go out and physically comb the forest preserves, and record all the plant species, or the bird species that they see or hear," he said. "Other teams will be using nets, and other sorts of traps to temporarily catch some of those elusive critters, as well."

Meister said you never know what might be found.

"The more information that we have, the better we can manage. It's like finding a different piece of the puzzle," he said.

The public can get a feel for what the scientists are up to on Saturday by attending Nature Fest at St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville. The other three locations for the BioBlitz are Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, and Herrick Lake and Danada forest preserves in Wheaton.