White squirrel, woolly bears, climate change, hunting accidents are in notes on Chicago outdoors

A white squirrel of Crestwood photographed on Halloween. | Dan Sopkin

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Dan Sopkin took this Halloween photo of a white squirrel in Crestwood. It is not the only one there. Downstate Olney better watch its place as ``White Squirrel Capital of the World.’’ WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Send nominations to @BowmanOutside on Twitter or Instagram, to Dale Bowman on Facebook or email BowmanOutside@gmail.com.

WILD TIMES

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday, Nov. 12: Capt. Kevin Pischke of Lay in a Line Guide Service seminar on Green Bay, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m., chicagolandmuskiehunters.org/meetingschedule.asp
Tuesday, Nov. 12: Top three teams, Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m., salmonunlimitedinc.com
Wednesday, Nov. 13: Rob Wilke on muskie fishing the Fox River, Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc., Schaumburg Golf Club, 7 p.m., frvmuskie.com
Wednesday, Nov. 13: Awards night, Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Poplar Creek Bowl, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m., lakegenevafishingclub.com
Thursday, Nov. 14: Tod Todd on ice fishing, Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion, 6:30 p.m., RiversideFishingClub.com

ICF FUNDRIASER

Nov. 25-26: Director’s Hunt, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area, ilcf.org/portal/upcoming-events-online-registration

SHOWTIME

Today, Nov. 10: The Early Show, Chicago area’s only fly-fishing show, presented by ISA and DRiFT, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oakbrook, dupageforest.org/news/news-releases/early-show-2019

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Today, Nov. 10-Feb. 15: Bobcat season (previous permits required)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: Second Canada goose season, central zone, opens
Thursday, Nov. 14: First season for doves ends
Friday, Nov. 15: Hunting for rail (Sora and Virginia only) ends
Saturday-next Sunday, Nov. 16-17: Youth waterfowl, south zone

DALE’S MAILBAG

A woolly bear spotted around SeatGeek Stadium.

“What is Mr. Bear telling us about the coming Winter by his coloration?’’ Tom Turek

A: Interestingly, the Bridgeview man found the woolly bear at SeatGeek Stadium (formerly Toyota Park). Every woolly bear I’ve found or readers havwe sent this fall has been dark, which, in days of yore, portended a rough winter.

BIG NUMBER

50: Percent of the six hunting accidents investigated by the Illinois Conservatipn Police so far this year that were related to tree stands.

LAST WORD

“The Paris Agreement and taking strong action on climate change is good for future generations of explorers and is also good for our business – to stay competitive and protect our outdoor playgrounds.”

- Arne Arens, global brand president, The North Face, as part of multiple responses by outdoor industries to the Trump administration beginning formal withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.