>> THERE IS A NEAR THOUSAND ACRE FIELD AT THE EDGE OF COOK COUNTY THAT COULD BE MISTAKEN AS IT ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AS PATTY POINTS OUT, IT IS A GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT GRASSLAND REFUGE FOR ENDANGERED WILDLIFE THAT IS NOW FACING SOME OF ITS OWN THREATS.

PATTY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ORLAND GRASSLANDS WHICH IS MANAGED BY COOK COUNTY FOR STRANGERS.

WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?

>> THAT 1000 ACRES YOU MENTIONED IS SO AMAZING TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT SIZE.

IT ISN'T A PRISTINE PRAIRIE REMNANTS.

IT IS A RESTORATION IN PROGRESS.

BUT IT IS LARGE ENOUGH THAT IT CAN PROVIDE HABITAT FOR THESE GRASSLAND BIRDS WHICH NEED VAST AMOUNTS OF OPEN SPACE.

AND AS YOU KNOW FROM LIVING IN CHICAGO, HUGE AMOUNTS OF OPEN SPACE ARE REALLY HARD TO COME BY.

SO, IT SUPPORTS THESE BIRDS THAT CAN'T FIND HABITAT REALLY ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

>> IT IS SUCH A SPRAWLING PART OF THE FOREST PRESERVE.

SUCH EQUAL AREA.

THE ORLAND GRASSLAND HAS SOME ISSUES OF ITS OWN.

TELL US.

>> THERE IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES CALLED THE CALORIE PAIR WHICH WE KNOW AS THE BRADFORD PEAR WHICH IS A SUPER POPULAR ORNAMENTAL TREE.

IT IS INVASIVE.

BIRDS EAT THE BERRIES, THEY TRAVEL THROUGH THE PRESERVE, DO THEIR BUSINESS AND YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE SHOOTS COMING UP.

I TALKED TO SITE STEWARDS AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE LOST ACRES OF WHAT WAS CRITICAL HABITAT FOR SOME ENDANGERED BIRDS.

THIS GROWS SO FAST AND FURIOUS, YOU CAN'T KNOCK IT OUT.

IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS.

>> ARE THERE ANY EFFORTS RIGHT NOW TO MITIGATE THIS?

>> ILLINOIS IS CONSIDERING AND THINKING ABOUT RECOMMENDING IT FOR LISTING IT ON THE NOXIOUS WEED LIST.

BUT ALSO, WEIRDLY ENOUGH THEY ACQUIRED 15 ACRES OF LAND ACROSS THE STREET FROM ORLAND'S MAIN ENTRANCE.

THERE IS A TOOLSHED THERE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT WILL SHED IS THAT ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS AND DEVOTED VOLUNTEERS WHO DO WORK WILL HAVE MORE TIME BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE TO HAUL THEIR TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FROM MILES OR SUBURBS AWAY, THEY CAN PUT IN MORE HOURS DIGGING OUT THAT INVASIVE SPECIES.

>> MAYBE SOME HELP IS ON THE WAY.

>> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT EXISTED.

>> IT IS SO GORGEOUS.

YOU CAN SEE EARTH TOUCH SKY AND I WAS LIKE I HAVE TO GO.