Chicago outdoors: Fireflies, Chicago chanterelle, Wisconsin waterfalls, and John Muir and racism

What are believed to be Chicago chanterelle in a good year for chanterelle. | Provided by Jay Damm

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.

MUSHROOM OF THE WEEK

Jay Damm said this looks like one of those once in every four or five years where he has a good chanterelle year. He thinks these are the Chicago chanterelle (Cantharellus chicagoensis), a local species identified by Field Museum adjunct curator Patrick Leacock.

MOTW, the celebration of mushrooms around Chicago outdoors, runs as apt in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

Thursday and Saturday, July 30 and Aug. 1: Bonfield, (815) 635-3198

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Monday, July 27: First come, first served applications begin for site-specific dove permits

Saturday, Aug. 1: Squirrel hunting opens

Saturday, Aug. 1: Free upland game permits, application period begins, click here

DALE’S MAILBAG

File photo of a firefly in hand while neighborhood kids were collecting them.

“I’ve owned my home in Elk Grove for 6 years [and] his is the first year I have ever seen a firefly. I see them every night lately. I have heard that the reduced flights over O’Hare contributed to this.” Brian Pentecost

A: He spurred me to check with Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s Doug Taron, chief curator of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. “Fireflies up here by me (Elgin) are having a pretty good year,” he emailed. “I’ve seen more activity, but this year isn’t bad. I very skeptical that flights out of O’Hare would influence firefly numbers.”

BIG NUMBER

5: Top waterfall spots in Wisconsin, according to travelwisconsin.com: Amnicon Falls State Park, Copper Falls SP, Iron County, Marinette County and Pattison SP–Superior

LAST WORD

“As people around the world demand justice for Black lives, the Sierra Club recognizes the urgent need to dismantle systemic racism within our own organization, the environmental movement, and our country. We must reckon with how racism — both past and present — has shaped our organization and work to repair the harm done.”

Post this week by Sierra Club, whose famed founder, John Muir, has a dubious history in writings and action with racism

A wood-carved statue of John Muir by R.L. Blair is seen on the road leading to Sequoia National Park near the city of Woodlake, Calif., Jan. 17, 2015. The Sierra Club is reckoning with the racist views of founder John Muir, the naturalist who helped spawn environmentalism. The San Francisco-based environmental group said Wednesday, July 22, 2020 that Muir was part of the group’s history perpetuating white supremacy. Executive Director Michael Brune says Muir made racist remarks about Black people and Native Americans, though his views later evolved. (AP Photo/Brian Melley) ORG XMIT: RPBM301