The more you know

Rolling over and playing dead might not seem like the best protective strategy, but for some animals it's just right.

Feeding ducks bread may seem kind, but it’s harmful to their health. Bread lacks the nutrients ducks need and can lead to malnutrition, especially in ducklings. Instead of bread, offer healthy treats like corn, veggie scraps, or fruit — or better yet, let ducks find their own natural food to stay strong and thrive.

Illinois is nicknamed the Prairie State for its wide open landscapes and native plants. Keep an eye out for state symbols on your next visit: the violet, our state flower, blooms in many colors; milkweed supports monarchs as our wildflower; big bluestem, the tallest prairie grass, grows up to 8 feet tall; and the mighty white oak, our state tree, feeds wildlife and lives for centuries.

Pollinators like bees and butterflies get the spotlight, but moths, beetles, and flies play vital roles too. Moths work the night shift, beetles have been pollinating since dino days, and flies help early blooms. Each has unique ways of spreading pollen, keeping nature thriving. So next time you see one, say “Thanks, pollinators!”

Robin’s egg blue comes from a pigment called biliverdin in the female’s blood, not from food. Many birds lay blue eggs, and egg color comes from two pigments: biliverdin (blue or green) and protoporphyrin (reddish-brown). Egg colors may offer camouflage or sun protection. Robins lay 3 to 5 eggs and incubate them for 12 to 14 days. Hatchlings fledge about two weeks after hatching and learn to fly shortly after.

Hi I’m the wild strawberry also called Virginia or common strawberry found across Illinois in prairies meadows and woodlands I bloom in late spring with white flowers and grow sweet heart-shaped berries if conditions are right Loved by wildlife and pollinators I am one of the parent plants of the grocery store strawberry and part of the fragrant rose family.

Frog and toad eggs in Will County are laid underwater in jelly-like clusters to stay moist. Each egg has a yolk that feeds the growing tadpole. Tadpoles hatch with a tiny tail, mouth and gills, later growing legs and switching from algae to meat as they become froglets. The numbers of eggs laid and the time it takes to grow into adults depends on the frog’s species.

Our view of nature has changed over time. Once thought endless, wildlife began disappearing in the 1800s. Laws like the Lacey Act and Bald Eagle Protection Act helped, but the 1973 Endangered Species Act became a key tool to protect and recover species. It prevents harm to listed species and their habitats. Thanks to it, animals like the bald eagle made a comeback. The work continues to protect wildlife for future generations.