The hoary bat is the largest bat in Will County, weighing 1.2 ounces with a wingspan of up to 16 inches. The name “hoary” describes the...

With summer coming to a close and fall on its way, this is the time of year we like to call spider season. Although spiders can be seen...

Butterflies are one of those creatures that always seem to delight us, sparking awe and joy as they flutter by. Butterflies belong to the...

No one likes mosquitoes. They are annoying, and no one is safe from their itchy bites. They are just one of those things we have to put...

Mussels are interesting and important creatures, but they are often overlooked. More than 80 different types of mussels used to live in...

Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable butterflies in Illinois. They are larger butterflies with bright orange and black...

A familiar flash of light in your backyard on a summer evening can mean only one thing: lightning bug season. These bugs are a summertime...

Step aside, butterflies. We are going to take a moment to celebrate a lesser-known member of the Lepidoptera family. The big, colorful...

Summer is the best time to see reptiles crawling, swimming and slithering about. There are snakes and lizards and turtles. If you are...

Many of us get excited each spring when our migratory birds return. One of the birds that is most anticipated each year is the Baltimore...

Summer is full of sunshine, flowers and insects! One group of insects are famous for their life cycle and fluttering. They belong to the...

The six-spotted tiger beetle is a beautiful, shiny insect. They are often seen on woodland trails, just a few steps ahead of you. As you...

When we think of bees, honeybees or bumble bees usually come to mind. But did you know that there are 500 different species of bees...

Brown snakes are also called Dekay’s brown snakes. Their scientific name is Storeria dekayi. The Storeria part of the name honors an...

Here’s a challenge for you today: Put on your nature detective hat to solve a mystery – the case of the much-maligned double-crested...

Newts are not just magical ingredients for witches’ brews. They are also the leading character in their own fairy tale. Each year, they...

When you think of owls, it is probably the great horned owl that you first think of. It is the owl most familiar to many people. Great...

American kestrels are common throughout the United States. They have bold color patterns that would make you think they would be hard to...

Woodpeckers are unique among birds for how they make their presence known. They have chisel-like bills that are perfect for their...

For many fish, winter is a time of rest. They head down into deep waters, slow their heart rates and eat far less often. Walleyes, on the...