Learn To Speak the Red-Winged Blackbird's Language
Known for their song and aggressive behaviors, red-winged blackbirds are one of the easiest birds to identify in Will County. It’s all in...
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Willy's Wilderness
Willy's Wilderness
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May 6, 20223 min
This Frog Is All Around, But They Like To Blend In
One of the roles of the Forest Preserve of District of Will County is to provide and restore healthy habitats for a diverse and abundant...
Apr 29, 20224 min
Five Facts About Graceful Great Egrets
Our tallest birds are among our most elegant, and the great egret certainly fits into this group of regal birds. Great egrets are one of...
Apr 22, 20223 min
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Are Small But Fierce
The tiny ruby-throated hummingbird is often deemed the cutest bird around. Sure, they buzz when they fly, their feathers shimmer in the...
Apr 14, 20224 min
Five Fast Facts About Beloved White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are curious and shy creatures. They are always aware of your presence and keeping a watchful eye as they graze. They...
Apr 11, 20223 min
Get To Know The Majestic Great Blue Heron
Great blue herons are majestic birds you can see around Will County’s marshes, rivers, ponds and lakes — basically anyplace with still or...
Mar 28, 20223 min
Our Most Common Snake Is Nothing To Fear
The common garter snake is perfectly named. It is the most common garter snake in North America. That is because it is very adaptable. It...
Mar 22, 20222 min
Our Biggest, Boldest Woodpecker Really Grabs Your Attention
A loud, tapping sound coming from the forest just might be the work of a woodpecker. If that tapping is really loud, it just may be a...
Mar 11, 20223 min
Get To Know the Teeny, Tiny Tardigrade
What is the difference between a water bear and a moss piglet? Nothing! Both are common names for a tiny animal officially known as the...
Feb 25, 20223 min
Oh, Deer: Our Largest Animal The Only One With Antlers
White-tailed deer are the largest wild mammal in Illinois. They are browsing herbivores that roam the woods, sometimes entering yards and...
Feb 4, 20223 min
Minks Are One of Our Area's Top Aquatic Predators
What animal can swim nonstop for three hours, climb trees like a champ, dive 16 feet deep, hold its breath for five minutes, purr like a...
Jan 21, 20223 min
A Woodpecker On The Ground? It's A Northern Flicker
Woodpeckers are famous for, well, pecking wood. When you imagine a woodpecker, most likely you picture a black and white bird hammering...
Jan 11, 20223 min
How Do Bison Survive A Long, Cold Winter?
What do you do to protect yourself from the winter cold? You bundle up! Coats, scarfs, hats and gloves all come out of storage. Bison...
Jan 4, 20222 min
Striped Skunks: More Than Just A Bad Smell
Most people know a skunk when they see one, and they will probably go to great lengths to avoid coming into close contact with it. Skunks...
Dec 29, 20212 min
Hawk Circling Your Feeders? It's Likely A Cooper's Hawk
Feeding the birds can be a great way to bond with nature and learn your local birds. One of the most magical things about nature is that...
Dec 14, 20214 min
There's Plenty To Appreciate About Canada Geese
Canada geese can be found all over Will County. Known for their “V” formations in the sky, their big honking noises and sometimes the...
Dec 10, 20213 min
Definitely Not A Duck: 5 Fun Facts On Pied-Billed Grebes
Pied-billed grebes are part-time residents of Will County. These tiny little birds are smaller than crows. They are mostly brown and do...
Nov 19, 20213 min
Not A Mouse: Northern Short-Tailed Shrews Are Their Own Animal
Northern short-tailed shrews may look a little like mice, but shrews are not rodents at all. If you look closely, you’ll see these shrews...
Oct 22, 20212 min
For Mudpuppies, Fall Is Crucial For Species' Survival
For most salamanders, spring is the season to get spruced up and travel to the ponds to find a mate. However, mudpuppies, along with a...
Oct 1, 20214 min
Go Batty For Beneficial Little Brown Bats
October is bat season! We love bats for Halloween decorations, and we tell spooky stories about them around the campfire. Plus, this is a...
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