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Meet The Turtles of Will County
Nature has a way of balancing itself out, and turtles are an example of that. These reptiles are among the slowest creatures roaming the...
Sep 24, 20217 min read


Hoary Bats Set Themselves Apart From Other Bat Species
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...
Sep 10, 20212 min read


It's Spider Season, So Keep An Eye Out For Intricate Webs
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...
Sep 3, 20213 min read


Five Fun Facts About Our Beloved Butterflies
Butterflies are one of those creatures that always seem to delight us, sparking awe and joy as they flutter by. Butterflies belong to the...
Aug 31, 20213 min read


Scratch An Itch With These 5 Mosquito Facts
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...
Aug 24, 20213 min read


Mussels in Our Streams Mean Waterways Are Clean
Mussels are interesting and important creatures, but they are often overlooked. More than 80 different types of mussels used to live in...
Aug 10, 20213 min read


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...
Aug 3, 20213 min read


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 27, 20214 min read


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 16, 20213 min read


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...
Jul 2, 20213 min read


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 25, 20214 min read


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 22, 20213 min read


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...
Jun 1, 20212 min read


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 18, 20213 min read


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...
May 14, 20212 min read


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 28, 20214 min read


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 13, 20213 min read


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...
Apr 6, 20213 min read


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 23, 20213 min read


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 12, 20213 min read
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