Creature features

Winter stoneflies are hardy insects that emerge as adults during the cold months, mating and laying eggs on icy waters. Found in clean, unpolluted streams, they’re a sign of healthy water. Though small and drab, they’re well-adapted to winter with antifreeze-like body fluids and clever behaviors. Their presence, or even the empty shells they leave behind, is a reason to celebrate nature’s resilience in winter!

Wood ducks are colorful, tree-loving ducks found in quiet, vegetated waterways. Males are brightly patterned, while females are more subtle. They nest in tree cavities, and their ducklings leap from nests soon after hatching. Wood ducks may have two broods per year and sometimes raise eggs laid by other females. Unlike mallards, they don’t quack—males whistle and females squeak. Males lose their bright colors after breeding, while females stay the same year-round.

Alligator gar are ancient fish with sharp teeth, tough scales, and poisonous eggs. They can grow up to 10 feet long and over 300 pounds, making them Illinois’ largest fish. These night-hunting predators can breathe both in water and air. Once extinct in Illinois, they are being reintroduced through conservation efforts. Sightings help scientists track their success, so report any you see.

The common loon, not a songbird or duck, is known for its haunting calls: wails to locate others, yodels to defend territory, tremolos to signal presence or fear, and soft hoots used between family. Loons prefer large, clear lakes and are expert divers with dense bones to catch fish quietly. Though rare in Will County, their eerie calls are common in northern woods and often heard in movies set in forests.

American white pelicans migrate through Will County each spring and fall, stopping to rest and feed. These large birds have 9-foot wingspans and use thermals to soar. Their long beaks grow a seasonal bump during mating, and their throat pouch helps them scoop fish and stay cool. Pelicans often hunt cooperatively by corralling fish. Many stop at the confluence near Four Rivers, where up to 900 have been seen during fall migration.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass differ in more than just mouth size. Largemouth have bigger bodies and jaws that extend past their eyes; smallmouth jaws stop at the eye’s center. Largemouth are greenish with horizontal stripes and a split-like dorsal fin. Smallmouth are brownish with vertical stripes and a connected dorsal fin. Largemouth prefer warm, murky water and ambush prey, while smallmouth hunt in cooler, clear water. Both are fun to catch and found in many U.S. lakes

Red milkweed beetles are bright red insects with long antennae and a unique “four eyes” setup. They live on milkweed, laying eggs near the stems. Larvae feed on roots underground, then emerge as adults in summer. Like monarchs, they eat milkweed and avoid its sticky latex by cutting leaf veins. Their red color warns predators of their toxicity. These beetles also make squeaking and purring sounds while feeding or interacting with each other.

The northern saw-whet owl is one of the smallest owls in the world, standing no larger than 8 inches tall. They do not hoot and are named for their song that is said to sound similar to a whetstone sharpening a saw. Northern saw-whet owls usually nest in cavities built or used by other birds where fledglings will stay until fully independent after about 3 months. They are exclusively nocturnal predators that prey on small rodents and birds and large insects.