The more you know

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.

“April showers bring May flowers” isn’t fully accurate. In Will County, June is usually the rainiest month, not April. Flowers can bloom as early as mid-March, and the saying dates back to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. While April rain helps wake up the soil after winter, it’s not the top month for rainfall. Still, spring rains play a key role in helping flowers grow. Try tracking rainfall and watching nature change throughout the season.

Bobcats are the only wild cats in Illinois and are often confused with Canada lynx due to their similar appearance. Both have bobbed tails and ear tufts, but lynx have longer back legs, larger furry paws, and lighter coats. Bobcats are more widespread and eat a variety of prey, while lynx mostly eat snowshoe hares. Two other lynx species include the Eurasian lynx, found in Europe and Asia, and the rare Spanish, found only in Spain and Portugal.

Illinois is home to red and gray foxes. While red foxes are usually rusty red, their color can vary, but they always have a white-tipped tail.Gray foxes have black-tipped tails and can climb trees. Red foxes are larger, with longer legs and slit-shaped eyes. Both species are omnivores, eat rodents, and face few predators. Though similar, they belong to different genera. Red foxes are more common in northern Illinois, while gray foxes prefer southern forests.