Chicago outdoors: Egg-laying turtle, Clear Lake tops bass list, dearth of fireflies, plea for TIP number

A turtle laying eggs in a west suburban forest preserve, then moving on. | Pete Lamar

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Pete Lamar found the turtle above laying eggs on a footpath leading to a pond at a west suburban forest preserve. “Traffic is very light in this place so the eggs may be alright, if a fox or raccoon doesn’t find them,” he emailed. “By the time I left she was back in the water and the eggs were covered so well it looked as if it had never happened.”

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

Aug. 15 and 22: Waterman, asceducationdept@gmail.com

FISH GATHERING

Wednesday, July 8: Perch America (barring anything unforeseen, check here), Indiana Harbor Yacht Club, East Chicago Marina, 7 p.m.

DALE’S MAILBAG

“PLEASE give me a phone number to the conservation police.... these cats were SNAGGING CATFISH SOON AS THEY LEFT Tuesday on 78th in Eggleston. . . . and Washington Park.” BoRabb Williams text

A: The poachers tip line for the Illinois Conservation Police is (877) 2DNRLAW, which is (877) 236-7529.

BIG NUMBER

No. 1: Ranking of California’s Clear Lake in Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes of the past decade. Sturgeon Bay only came in at No. 25.

LAST WORD

“The last few nights there have been better numbers regarding fireflies. That’s been good to see. I would normally collect some to feed to the toad, but not this season. Each one seems to be too precious.”

Ken “Husker” O’Malley, noting the lack of fireflies this summer

File photo of a firefly in hand.