Willy's Wilderness

Aug 3, 2021
3 min

Monarchs Begin Life As Very Hungry Caterpillars

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

Jul 27, 2021
4 min

Light Bright: Five Fun Facts About Fireflies

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...

Jul 16, 2021
3 min

Celebrate Cecropia Moths Right in Your Own Yard

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

Jul 2, 2021
3 min

Get To Know Our Resident Blanding's Turtles

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

Jun 25, 2021
4 min

5 Fun Facts About Bright And Colorful Orioles

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...

Jun 22, 2021
3 min

Skip Through Summer With Our Local Skippers

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

Jun 1, 2021
2 min

These Shiny Beetles Are Emerald Jewels of the Forest

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...

May 18, 2021
3 min

These Busy Bees Eat Holes in Your Leaves

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...

May 14, 2021
2 min

Unassuming Dekay's Brown Snakes Are Harmless To You

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

Apr 28, 2021
4 min

Busting Myths About The Maligned Double-Crested Cormorant

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...

Apr 13, 2021
3 min

Newts Undergo Fairy-Tale-Like Transformations

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

Apr 6, 2021
3 min

5 Fascinating Facts About Great Horned Owls

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...

Mar 23, 2021
3 min

American Kestrels Are Small But Mighty Falcons

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

Mar 12, 2021
3 min

Five Fun Facts About Those Wacky Woodpeckers

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

Mar 9, 2021
2 min

Walleyes Are A Fish For All Seasons

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...

Feb 16, 2021
3 min

Whooo's Out There? Mourning Doves Can Sound Like Owls

A “hoooo, hoo, hoo” outside your window can be exciting to hear. An owl is nearby and making its presence known! Sometimes, though, those...

Feb 9, 2021
3 min

A Fox in a Tree? Gray Foxes Are Good Climbers

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is the only canid in America that climbs trees! A canid is a member of the animal family Canidae,...

Feb 2, 2021
3 min

It's Their Moment To Shine: 5 Things About Groundhogs

It’s Groundhog Day, and that means it’s time for our annual celebration of groundhogs. Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow and curse us...

Jan 26, 2021
3 min

The Not-So-Golden American Goldfinch

Winter is a great time to get into bird watching and bird feeding. You can spend time exploring new places to hunt down that elusive owl...

Jan 22, 2021
2 min

Don't Be Scared. Wolf Spiders Are Harmless

Did you see a big, hairy spider crawling quickly across the ground? It was probably a wolf spider. Because they are big and hairy, wolf...