Who hasn't seen a roly-poly and given it a gentle touch to watch it form into a little ball? Rolling into a ball is how these bugs...

Woodpeckers are a bird with a perfect name, because they are known for pecking wood. And red-headed woodpeckers are even more perfectly...

Do you love earthworms? Do they creep you out? Either way, there are thousands under your feet all the time. We want earthworms under our...

Have you ever heard the phrase “playing possum” and wondered what it meant? Playing possum is the same as playing dead. It’s something...

We don’t often think of birds as predators, but the great horned owl is a strong hunter, able to take down animals even bigger than...

What in the world is a Woodcock? An American Woodcock is a shorebird that thought the shore was overrated. These small plump short-legged...

If you take one look at a snowy owl, you can probably guess how they got their name. These snowy-white birds can be a beautiful sight,...

You probably know many of Will County’s resident rodents. We have beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, and woodchucks. But one of...

In honor of Groundhog Day and our mascot, Willy, here is a closer look at groundhogs. The groundhog becomes a celebrity once a year, when...

Snapping Turtles bring new meaning to the words “butt breath.” But in this case it’s not an insult; it’s a way to survive! When you...

At first glance, the red fox looks like an animal you might have as a pet at home, but these creatures are designed to live in the wild....

If anyone has ever told you that you’re busy as a beaver, they definitely know at least a little something about these crafty critters....

Turkey will probably be on the menu for your Thanksgiving feast, but these birds aren’t just a source of food for us. They’re our...

Despite a name to the contrary, there’s nothing magical or mysterious about merlin falcons. The Merlin falcon has a name that sounds a...

They'll eat things that would make you sick. Nobody will ever say turkey vultures are the prettiest bird they have ever seen. But they...

Praying mantises are a common insect in Illinois, but their excellent camouflage means we often don’t see them even when they are near....

Sandhill cranes are a magnificent sight. Sandhill cranes are big, majestic birds. They have long legs and necks to make them stand tall,...