The more you know

Have you ever heard that sunflowers will follow the sun across the sky? They do in a way. The flowers are firmly rooted to the ground where they grow, but the flower heads will move throughout the day so they are always facing the sun.

How are animals related? System of taxonomy helps us understand.

Sugar gliders are marsupials that live in Australia and New Guinea, but they may remind you a little of the squirrels we see all over Illinois.

Illinois is home to many interesting and diverse critters that fly, crawl, swim and walk through our rivers, forests and prairies. But do you know which were chosen to represent the state?

Birds migrate, bats migrate, creatures of the oceans migrate, but did you know insects also migrate? Not all insects migrate, but a few of our local species head south for winter.

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.