Bourbonnais, IL – Families across Kankakee County have one more chance this week to explore the region’s prehistoric past. The Bourbonnais Township Park District is hosting its final 2025 “Lost Habitats: Pleistocene Kankakee” program today, December 4, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Exploration Station.
According to the Bourbonnais Township Park District, the one-hour program highlights the megafauna species that once roamed Illinois between 2 million and 10,000 years ago, including mammoths, sabertooth cats, ancient bison, and other Ice Age mammals that shaped the early Midwest environment. The demo is led by educator Mitchell Goodknecht of ACCO—Animal Care Conservation Outreach.
The session features an indoor presentation with skulls, pelts, antlers, and fossil replicas, offering a hands-on look at species that once dominated what is now Kankakee County. Attendees will learn about the region’s colder prehistoric climate, how the Grand Kankakee Marsh formed and eventually disappeared, and why some native species vanished in the late 1800s.
Organizers say the event also covers Illinois’ “Forgotten Five” mammals—species believed to have been lost statewide within the past century—as well as modern animals now on the brink of local extinction. The program is designed for families, wildlife enthusiasts, and students interested in conservation or natural history.
Admission is $6 per person, with registration available through the Park District’s online portal. The event is hosted at the Exploration Station at 1095 Perry Street, just east of downtown Bourbonnais.
Residents who attend are encouraged to share photos and reactions as the Park District explores new ACCO programming for 2026.
