The mystery of shoes along the Chicago River during the pandemic, a suburban sandhill crane family, big TV numbers for the return of the Bassmaster Elite Series and a warning on drunk boating are among the notes around Chicago outdoors.

By Dale Bowman

Lynn and Tim Snell had a family of sandhill cranes stroll their yard in Green Oaks this month on multiple mornings. Provided photo — Lynn and Tim Snell had a family of sandhill cranes stroll their yard in Green Oaks this month on multiple mornings.

Notes come from all over on Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Lynn and Tim Snell emailed from their home in Green Oaks in mid-June, “To our surprise and excitement, a family of sandhill cranes has been taking a casual morning stroll though our yard over the last three days!”

It’s worth a wider shot of the family stroll.

A wide shot of the family of sandhill cranes that Lynn and Tim Snell had stroll their yard in Green Oaks this month on multiple mornings.

WILD TIMES

ILLINOIS PERMITS

Tuesday, June 30: Deadline, second lottery for applications, fiream/muzzleloader deer season

DALE’S MAILBAG

“Also, it may seem strange, but I’ve never seen so many shoes floating on the river. They are everywhere.” Jeff Nolan, on boating the Chicago River and sending the photo below.

A: I’ve got nothing to explain that, not even a guess. I’m inclined to add it to the oddities of 2020. If you have something better, let me know.

An unusual number of shoes spotted along the Chicago River are one of the unusual sights during the pandemic, according to Jeff Nolan. Provided photo — An unusual number of shoes spotted along the Chicago River are one of the unusual sights during the pandemic, according to Jeff Nolan.

BIG NUMBER

2.8 million: Estimated number of viewers of the return of Bassmaster Elite Series season and live, on-the-water action for four days on ESPN2. BASS reported, “Between televised coverage on ESPN2 and the livestream on Bassmaster.com and ESPN3, fans watched more than 85 million minutes of tournament coverage.”

LAST WORD

“When we talk about drunk driving, most people immediately associate it with getting behind the wheel of a car, but they should remember the same problems occur when boat operators drive drunk/ Just like a car or truck, boats are large, heavy machinery that become extremely dangerous to operate when you’re under the influence.

Lt. Curt Lewis, boating law administrator, Illinois Conservation Police, with the usual needed warning ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.

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