Photos of a short-eared owl and a white squirrel, Wisconsin wolves and Cheryl Smith fishing in a winter storm are among the notes around Chicago outdoors.

A short-eared owl, a white squirrel, Wisconsin wolves and Cheryl Smith fishing in a winter storm are in the notes around Chicago outdoors.

By Dale Bowman

Resized/Sun-Times — A short-eared owl in Chicago’s western suburbs.

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Dr. Elizabeth Pector photographed this short-eared owl in the western suburbs and rued, “I felt sad no one else could see him showing off his flight skills in the still fairly bright sun in late afternoon.’’

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

SHOWTIME

Click here for the master list of shows, classes and seminars.

Thursday, Jan. 23, to Jan. 26: Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, Schaumburg Convention Center

Saturday, Jan. 25, to Jan. 26: Capt. Dan Keating Schools, Lake Michigan Angler, Winthrop Harbor, Salmon 101, Saturday, Advanced Tactics & Seasonal Strategies, Sunday

Today, Jan. 19: Final day, Northern Illinois Sports Show, Lake County Fairground & Event Center, Grayslake

Today, Jan. 19: Final day, Muskie Expo Chicago, Pheasant Run, St. Charles

Today, Jan. 19: Final day, Greater Chicago RV Show, Schaumburg Convention Center

FISH GATHERING

Tuesday, Jan. 21: Johnny Wilkins, “Catch More Fish Everywhere,’’ Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m.

EAGLE WATCHING

Saturday, Jan. 25, to Jan. 26: Starved Rock Bald Eagle Watch Weekend, bit.ly/2QNa2VR

POLAR DAY

Saturday, Jan. 25: Northerly Island, click here for details

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Today, Jan. 19: Final day, second late-winter antlerless deer and CWD seasons. . . . Final day, archery deer and turkey seasons

DALE’S MAILBAG

“Thought you might find this interesting. It’s the first white squirrel I’ve ever seen.’’ Kirby Bullard, Midlothian

A: I do find it interesting. That Crestwood/Midlothian area is now consistently producing enough white squirrels to be a thing.

BIG NUMBER

914-978: Wisconsin’s 2018-19 overwinter minimum wolf counts from 243 packs

LAST WORD

“Actually had a guy pull over and take [a photo] of me fishing. Little creepy, but, I guess it is rare to see any angler out in this, especially a female.’’

Cheryl Smith, who will be on the “Women in Fishing panel” Jan. 26 at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, on Facebook about fishing in last Saturday’s wild weather.

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