Fox on van roof to Pokémon Go: Notes on Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

John Wedlaketweeted his photograph of a red fox last week on a van roof in a parking lot of a school in Bolingbrook. Interesting shot of my favorite mammal.

Wild of the Week, the celebration of wild scenes around Chicago outdoors, runs Sundays on the outdoors page as warranted. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

Aug. 11 and 13: Richmond, mchenryilhs@gmail.com

FISH GATHERING

Thursday: Outdoor meeting and swap meet, Fish Tales Fishing Club, 16021 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, 7 p.m., click here

ILLINOIS PERMITS

Through July 21: Second lottery, online applications for free dove hunting permits, select sites. Click here

DALE’S MAILBAG

Email: “After the Fourth at Pratt Beach.’’ Howard Bass photo

A: The scene at the North Side beach is repeated in many forms far too often from Chicago to the suburbs to the outlying areas during and after Fourth of July celebrations.

BIG NUMBER

2.5 million: People who had their first fishing experience in 2015, according to the 2016 Special Report on Fishing released by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the Outdoor Foundation at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades Show (ICAST) in Orlando, Fla.

LAST WORD

“When searching for a `water type’ Pokémon such as `Magikarp’ on a waterway, let the first mate or friend handle the cell phone while the captain keeps a safe lookout.’’

BoatUS, with one of three tips for playing Pokémon Go on the water.