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Snowy owls visit our area only in winter, with sightings varying based on food in their Arctic breeding grounds. These large, mostly white owls are the heaviest in North America. Males get whiter with age, while females keep dark markings. Unlike other local owls, snowy owls are active and hunt during the day. They eat small mammals like rodents and rabbits here, and lemmings in the Arctic.

The sky looks blue because of Rayleigh scattering. Sunlight is made of many colors, each with different wavelengths. Blue light has shorter wavelengths and scatters more when it hits molecules in the atmosphere. This scattered blue light reaches our eyes, making the sky appear blue. We don’t see violet skies because the sun gives off more blue light and our eyes are more sensitive to blue. At sunrise and sunset, light travels farther, so reds and oranges shine through.

Red foxes are known for their red fur and white-tipped tails; however, their color can vary. They thrive in diverse habitats, including urban areas, and are nocturnal. In Illinois, they raise litters of 1–11 kits in spring. Red foxes use their keen hearing to hunt rodents and small mammals. Red foxes are the world’s largest fox species and live across the Northern Hemisphere. Agile and clever, they use their tails for balance, warmth, and signaling.

Dark-eyed juncos spend summers in Canada and migrate to northern Illinois for winter, arriving in October and staying until early spring. These small, round birds with gray or brownish-gray bodies, white bellies and pinkish bills are part of the sparrow family. They’re among the most common birds in North America and are often seen under feeders eating spilled seeds. In warmer months, they also eat insects like ants, beetles, caterpillars and flies.

It is never truly too cold to snow because moisture, not temperature, is the key factor. Snow can fall at any temperature above absolute zero. While heavy snow is more common at 15 degrees or warmer, it can still occur in colder places like Yakutsk, Russia. Colder air holds less moisture, so snow tends to be lighter and fluffier with a higher snow ratio, meaning more inches of snow from less water.

Reindeer, also known as caribou, are relatives of the white-tailed deer found in Will County. Unlike other deer, both male and female caribou grow antlers, so Santa’s reindeer could be girls. Caribou live in northern forests of Alaska and Canada and migrate over 3,000 miles each year—the longest of any land mammal in North America. And no, none have been found with glowing red noses like Rudolph.

Will County hosts 8 owl species, including short- and long-eared owls. Their "ears" are actually feather tufts used for communication. Their true ears are inner openings, hidden by facial feathers that direct sound. Short-eared owls have light-colored faces, streaked bellies, and roost on grasslands. Long-eared owls have orange faces, striped bellies, and prefer forests. Their calls and flight patterns differ, and winter is the best time to spot these camouflaged, nocturnal b

Birds are full of surprises! Crows hold "funerals" to assess danger, hummingbirds can fly backwards, and some birds rub ants on themselves (anting) to stay clean. Owls swallow prey whole and regurgitate pellets, while shrikes impale prey with sharp objects for later. Woodpeckers can peck 16 times per second, and pigeons recognize human faces. Blue jays collect paint chips for calcium, some birds sleep while flying, and turkey vultures defend themselves by vomiting!

Canada geese are known for being aggressive in spring during mating season. They mate for life, choosing partners of similar size at age 2 or 3. Each spring, females lay 2 to 10 eggs and stay on the nest while males guard it. The goslings stay with their parents for about a year before joining a group of juveniles.

White-tailed deer are the largest wild mammal in Illinois, weighing 125–300 pounds and standing up to 3½ feet tall. Only males grow antlers. Though bears and bison are seen, they don’t live wild in Illinois. Deer live in urban, suburban and rural areas, wherever food is available. They eat grasses, leaves, twigs, fruits and, in farm areas, crops like corn and soybeans.

Early European settlers mistakenly called bison "buffalo," a name that has stuck to this day. Although both belong to the Bovidae family, bison differ from buffalo in size, horn shape, and geographic location. Indigenous groups like the Lakota depended on bison for survival. Westward expansion nearly wiped-out bison, reducing their numbers from millions to fewer than 1,000 by the 1890s. Today, around 500,000 exist, with Yellowstone hosting the only continuously wild herd.

Whiskers are special hairs packed with nerves that help mammals sense the world. Found on most mammals (except humans, platypuses, and echidnas), whiskers detect air currents, aid hunting, protect eyes, and help animals gauge space. Some, like walruses, have hundreds! Whiskers can even show emotion. Never cut or pull them—they’re super sensitive.

Coyotes, Illinois’ largest predator, are part of the dog family and closely related to wolves. They mainly eat animals like rabbits and mice. While they may occasionally hunt small pets, coyotes usually avoid humans. To keep pets safe, don’t leave them unattended outside, especially at night.

In colder months, freshwater turtles enter brumation - a deep, inactive state - nestled into mud at the bottom of ponds, lakes or rivers. Land turtles brumate underground instead. Their cold-bloodedness slows down their metabolism and bodily functions, allowing them to survive without food or oxygen. Their shells can absorb and neutralize lactic acid. Unlike air, water remains above freezing temperatures, keeping turtles safe. In spring, rising water temps and sunlight signal

Wild turkeys live throughout Will County and are very different from farm-raised turkeys. They can fly short distances at speeds up to 50 miles per hour to escape predators. Wild turkeys have dark brown feathers with colorful iridescence, while farm turkeys are mostly white with red wattles. Even though they are a Thanksgiving tradition now, turkeys probably were not part of the first Thanksgiving meal.

Woolly bear caterpillars, which grow into Isabella tiger moths, are often thought to predict winter based on their brown band size. However, band size is actually linked to age and diet. While they can’t forecast weather, they do have a cool survival trick. They produce glycerol, a natural antifreeze, that protects their cells when they freeze in winter, helping them survive extreme cold.

Acorns are in high demand in fall as animals like squirrels, deer, chipmunks, and birds stock up for winter. Acorns are oak tree seeds, with a smooth seed and a rough “hat” called a cupule. Oak trees don’t produce the same number each year—mast years bring many more acorns, sometimes up to 10,000 per tree, occurring every two to five years for reasons scientists still study.

Wolf spiders may look scary, but they aren’t dangerous to humans. They’re not aggressive, and their bites aren’t harmful. There are 2,000 to 3,000 wolf spider species worldwide, with 47 in Illinois. Female wolf spiders carry their egg sacs, then let the babies climb onto their backs after hatching, giving them a ride until they’re ready to live on their own.

As leaves fall, look for messy clumps in trees - these are squirrel nests, or dreys. Built from twigs, leaves, and moss, dreys are sturdy, often waterproof homes about 30 feet up. Inside, they’re lined with dry grasses, leaves and bark, however, paper and plastic litter can also be found. Squirrels make several dreys at a time and abandon it after one to two years of use. Some use tree cavities in the winter.

The bright fall colors we love have been in leaves all along, but chlorophyll, which makes leaves green, hides them during spring and summer. As days get shorter in fall, chlorophyll breaks down, revealing pigments like xanthophylls (yellow), carotenoids (orange), and anthocyanins (red). These pigments create the vibrant autumn colors we enjoy each year.