On till November 15, 2009, the exhibit features large animal houses built to human scale for visitors to step in and explore.
Designed to help visitors, especially children, learn how trees provide habitat to animals, the animal houses reinforce the importance of appreciating and protecting trees. The animals that have been selected for the exhibit represent actual animals that may be found living in northern Illinois.
Created by professional designers, artists, architects, landscape architects and exhibit designers, 10 of the 11 houses are found in three habitats that include the woodland, wetland and the prairie.
The woodland near Big Rock Visitor Station show how some animals use trees in woodland to make their homes. Housed in the woodland are Squirrel Drey, Raccoon Den, and Fallen Log.
Designed by Outhouse Design of Chicago, the Squirrel Drey is a mini tree house having a nest of twigs, branches, and leaves, where the visitors can crawl through tunnels and climb ladders. Material Agency of Evanston designed 20 feet Raccoon Den peeks over the top of a large hollow tree. Rotting Log has several insects and mammals.
The woodland features lots of trees with enough open areas to let in sunlight to help other plants grow under the trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses.
The Bur Reed Marsh wetland features the Beaver Lodge, Great Blue Heron Rookery, Skunk Den, and Pollywog Pond.
Designed by Living Habitats of Chicago, the Great Blue Heron Rookery is a larger than life nest to enable visitors see life from the Great Blue Heron’s perspective. Illinois-based SMT Architects-designed Beaver Lodge, covered in leaves and branches, is home to a massive beaver wetland. Inside, the beaver’s ‘kitchen table’ is piled with delicacies such as bark and corn on the cob.
Designed by Freelance Illustrations of Wauconda, Pollywog Pond features the underwater world with bugs, tadpoles, floating water lilies, dragonflies, damsel flies, and water striders.
Skunk Den, designed by Outhouse Design of Chicago, is a 14 feet long hollowed out log home with multiple entrances, skylights, and tunnels to explore.
The Prairie Animal Houses at the Schulenberg Prairie has Spider Web and Coyote Den designed by Outhouse Design, and Ant Colony designed by Chicago Scenic Studios.
The visitors crawl through the Ant Colony which has pathways, chambers, shafts, and side tunnels while the wheel-shaped Spider Web gives a firsthand experience of what life is like as a spider.
With the entry to the exhibition free with Arboretum admission, Animal Houses is open from 7 am to 7 pm (or sunset, whichever is earlier) daily.
