Creature features

Northern harriers are owl-like hawks seen gliding low over grasslands in a V-shaped flight. Males are gray and white, females are brown, and both have a white rump spot. Like owls, they have facial disks for hearing, hunt by sound and sight, and nest on the ground. They eat small mammals and birds and may roost with short-eared owls. Males perform aerial courtship dances and may have multiple mates. Look for them in Will County during fall, winter, and spring migrations.

Skunks are known for their smelly spray, which they use only as a last resort. They live in various habitats, eat almost anything, and aren’t easy prey due to their odor. Not all skunks have stripes—some are spotted or have a single broad stripe. They often live near water and have their young, called kits, in dens. Though they live up to seven years, many die young due to disease or cars. Surprisingly, skunks even eat bees and are immune to their stings.

Gray wolves are intelligent, social animals that live in family packs, communicate through howls, smells and body language, and play a vital role in nature by keeping deer populations in check. Once common in Illinois, they were hunted to local extinction but are now protected. While no full-time packs live in Illinois today, occasional wolves still wander in from nearby states.

Eastern red bats are furry, red-colored bats that live in trees, not caves. They wrap themselves in a tail “blanket” and hang by one foot to sleep, blending in like leaves. These small, solitary bats hunt insects after sunset and raise pups. In fall, they migrate south in groups called cauldrons and hibernate in leaf piles. Despite spooky myths, they’re helpful, harmless critters perfect to celebrate this Halloween.

Green herons are shy birds found near ponds and rivers. Their green-gray backs and chestnut necks help them blend into tall grasses. They hunt by standing still or using bait to lure fish. These birds nest high in trees and both parents help raise the young. Green herons migrate south for winter and return to Illinois each spring. Look closely on your next nature walk and you might spot one.

What looks like a giant mosquito may be a harmless crane fly. They do not bite or sting and most adults do not eat. Adults live only a few days to mate and lay eggs. They spend most of their lives as larvae feeding on plant matter in soil or water. Larvae can damage lawns but crane flies are an important food source and sensitive to pollution. If one flies indoors, gently move it outside rather than swatting.

Flies may seem pesky, but they have incredible abilities. They flap wings 200 times per second, land upside down, see in all directions, and process images faster than humans. They eat by spitting digestive juices on solids to liquefy them. Though often seen as dirty, flies groom themselves regularly. They play key roles by decomposing waste and pollinating plants. Despite their small size, flies help keep ecosystems healthy.

Eastern and ornate box turtles are land-loving turtles found in forests and prairies. They can close their shells like a box to protect from predators. Males have red eyes and concave plastrons; females have brown eyes and flat ones. Ornate box turtles mostly eat animals, while eastern ones eat plants and fungi too. Both brumate in winter. Ornate box turtles are threatened in Illinois, and one can be seen at Plum Creek Nature Center.