Fast Fact: Flying Squirrels
You’ve probably seen gray squirrels and fox squirrels scurrying about our forests and trees, but have you ever seen a flying squirrel?...
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Willy's Wilderness
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- May 10
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Fog
Have you ever woken up on a foggy morning and wondered where all that fog came from or even what fog is? Essentially, fog is a cloud...
- Apr 26
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Common Blue Violets
Did you know Illinois has a state flower? In 1908, the common blue violet was designated the official state flower. You can find our...
- Mar 29
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Chorus Frogs
When you think of spring, what sounds do you think of? Probably birds chirping, maybe rumbles of thunder with some spring storms? How...
- Mar 15
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Skunk Cabbage
When you’ve grown tired of winter, look for skunk cabbage as a sign that spring is on the way. This plant is one of the first to emerge...
- Mar 1
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Bison
Can you guess North America’s largest mammal? It’s the American bison, or what you might call a buffalo. Male bison can weigh as much as...
- Feb 15
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Pileated Woodpeckers
Many of our local woodpeckers sport black, white and red feathers, and the pileated woodpecker is one of them. It’s easy to distinguish...
- Feb 1
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Red Squirrels
You’ve probably seen fox squirrels and gray squirrels scurrying around our trees and forests, but you may not have spied a red squirrel...
- Jan 18
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Snowy Owls
Spotting a snowy owl can be a real thrill because these owls aren’t all that common in our area, and they are only here in the winter....
- Dec 29, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Dark-eyed Juncos
Surely you’ve heard that some birds fly south for the winter, right? Well, dark-eyed juncos fly south too, but for them, northern...
- Dec 22, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Reindeer
In the spirit of Christmas, let’s learn a little more about Santa’s reindeer gang. Reindeer, which we more commonly known as caribou, are...
- Dec 12, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Canada Geese
Canada geese are one of the most well-known and widespread birds, but many people don’t like them because they can be a little aggressive...
- Dec 7, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: White-tailed Deer
Did you know white-tailed deer are the biggest mammal living in the wild in Illinois? Bears occasionally pass through our state but don’t...
- Dec 1, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Coyotes
Coyotes are part of the dog family, and they are most closely related to wolves. Coyotes are the largest predator in Illinois. They...
- Nov 22, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Wild Turkeys
We have wild turkeys roaming all across Will County, but these wild birds are quite a bit different than the turkeys that grace our...
- Nov 14, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Woolly Bear Caterpillars
Have you ever seen one of these brown and black caterpillars? These are woolly bear caterpillars, and they grow up to be Isabella tiger...
- Nov 9, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Acorns
Acorns are in high demand at this time of year, with animals eating up and stocking up to prepare for winter. Squirrels are the most...
- Oct 31, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Fact: Wolf Spiders
If you’re not a fan of spiders, wolf spiders might stop you in your tracks. Wolf spiders tend to be big and hairy, making them a little...
- Oct 24, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Facts: Fall Color
Do you love how the leaves change color each fall? The pigments that create the bright yellows and oranges that make the fall landscape...
- Oct 17, 2022
- 1 min
Fast Facts: Lady beetles
What you probably call a ladybug would more appropriately be called a lady beetle. Why? Because ladybugs are really beetles, not bugs....
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