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Earthworms, non-native to the Midwest, are vital to soil health. These segmented annelids tunnel through soil, eating organic matter and enriching it with its waste. Despite enhancing soil quality, some species - like jumping worms - can harm ecosystems. Worms are either epigeic, endogeic, or anecic depending on the soil depth they live at. Their burrowing improves soil structure, drainage, plant growth and help prevent pollution.

Striped skunks defend themselves with a powerful spray that can reach over 10 feet and smell travels miles. Most animals avoid them because of this. Before spraying, skunks warn by lifting their tails, stomping feet, hissing, and growling. If you see these signs, it’s best to back away to avoid the foul-smelling spray.

Common in North America, giant mayflies have been around for 300 million years. They live for a few days as adults, existing only to mate and create offspring. Uniquely, they have two winged stages. Their nymph stage can last from four months to two years. As adults, they may swarm in large groups. Since they are sensitive to pollution, giant mayflies are indicator species giving humans insight of water quality.

Animals can’t escape to air conditioning, but they have clever ways to beat the heat. Many seek shade or cool water. Birds pant using gular fluttering to release excess body heat, reptiles burrow into the ground or dive deeper in water, and mammals may wallow in mud or cool off in ponds. Some birds even poop on their legs to cool down! Rabbits and elephants use their ears to release heat. You can help by leaving clean water out for wildlife during hot days.

Great blue herons are among the largest birds in Illinois, standing up to 4.5 feet tall with wingspans over 5.5 feet. Despite their size, they weigh only 5 to 6 pounds due to their hollow bones. These grayish-blue birds are skilled hunters, using their sharp bills to catch fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals. Both males and females share the same coloring.

Dragonflies and damselflies look similar but have key differences. Dragons are larger, rest with wings open, and have fused eyes. Damsels are slender, rest with wings closed, and have separated eyes. Both begin life as aquatic nymphs with unique gills and are skilled insect hunters. Dragons fly fast and high; damsels flutter low. Will County is home to many colorful species, including green darners, Halloween pennants, and familiar bluets.

The 13-lined ground squirrel lives in underground burrows and is one of the few true hibernators in Illinois, sleeping from November to March. In warmer months, they’re found in grassy areas with short grass so they can see over it. They store food in cheek pouches and eat mostly seeds, along with insects and bird eggs. They have 13 light and dark stripes on their backs, with light spots on the dark stripes, giving them a dotted look.

Monarch butterflies go through four life stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult. This process is called metamorphosis. Monarchs rely on milkweed plants throughout their lives. They lay eggs only on milkweed, and the caterpillars feed solely on it. Without milkweed, monarchs cannot survive.

The slender glass lizard is a legless reptile found in Will County that looks like a snake but is a lizard because it has eyelids and external ears. It lives in sandy habitats and can grow up to 42 inches long. Its tail breaks easily to escape predators and regrows shorter. Active during day or night based on temperature, it eats insects and small animals. Though rarely seen, it’s not endangered but is a conservation concern in Illinois.

Lightning bugs, or fireflies, light up to find mates using special organs that produce light through a reaction with oxygen and luciferin. Different species flash unique light patterns, with males and females communicating. Not all lightning bugs can light up, but those in our area do. When catching them, be gentle, use a container with air holes, keep them only a day, and release them at night when they’re active.

Summer is perfect for digging in the dirt. Feel its texture, color and smell. Pretend to dig like animals such as birds, moles, worms or rabbits. Use tools or your hands to explore. Discover hidden treasures and create a mud museum. Play with mud pies, mud soup or build a dirt castle. When finished, fill the hole like an animal or with tools. You can even plant something before covering it up. Enjoy getting messy and creative in nature.

Poison ivy grows across most of the U.S. and can be identified by its three glossy leaflets, which change color with the seasons. It can grow as a shrub or vine. Most people are allergic to its oil, urushiol, which causes an itchy, red rash where it touches the skin. The rash is not contagious. To ease symptoms, avoid scratching and use anti-itch treatments or cool compresses.

Sun glitter is the phenomenon of a sparkling appearance on a body of water’s surface caused by reflecting light. A reflection from the sun on a surface of water is called a glint. These glints appear as the sunlight reflects off slopes of the waves. Wind, birds, or anything that can cause large waves will disrupt the reflection resulting in multiple glints or flashes of light.

The American bullfrog, the largest frog in North America, lives near permanent water and eats mostly animals. They can jump up to 6 feet and males have a loud, cow-like call heard up to half a mile away. Females lay up to 20,000 eggs, but only a few survive (2% success rate). Bullfrogs can take up to three years to mature from eggs to adults. The longer a bullfrog takes to fully mature, the bigger in size it will be. Males have larger eardrums and yellow throats during breedi

The ruby-throated hummingbird is Illinois’ smallest bird, measuring just 3½ inches long and weighing less than a nickel. Their nests are thimble-sized, and their eggs are smaller than jelly beans. Despite their size, they’re expert fliers, beating their wings 53 times a second and flying backward or even upside down. Only males have the red throat that gives the species its name; females have white throats.

The blinded sphinx moth is part of the hawk moth family - family Sphingidae - which includes many of the largest moth species around. Despite its name, the blinded sphinx moth is not blind at all. They have “eye spots” on their wings that are meant to intimidate predators. However, their eye spots lack a fake pupil which is why these moths are called blind. Blinded sphinx moths do not have a mouth and put all their energy into reproducing. In Will County, they are mostly seen

Northern water snakes are common in northern Illinois and often seen sunning on rocks or swimming with just their heads above water. They are nonvenomous and harmless to people. Typically 1 to 2 feet long, they are brown or reddish with bands or blotches. These carnivores live in wetlands and eat fish, insects, amphibians, crayfish, and occasionally small mammals.

Animals share some surprising behaviors with humans. Some give gifts—like birds offering prey or spiders wrapping snacks in silk. Many sunbathe to warm up or remove parasites. Some grieve, like elephants and whales mourning lost loved ones. And many fiercely protect their young, from geese to octopi. While animals aren’t human, they deserve respect for both their differences and the ways they’re like us.

Though you would think to find most crustaceans living in streams and creeks, crayfish, Cambarus diogenes, can live in water deep beneath the soil. Crayfish build muddy towers above ground called “chimneys” that can be found in fields, yards and along streambanks. Our devil crayfish, cousins to the lobster, have hard exoskeletons that darkens from a clear coat to a reddish-brown color as they molt and grow. Devil crayfish play incredible roles in supporting life and ecosystem

Painted turtles are common and easy to recognize by the red and yellow markings on their heads, legs, and shells. Often seen basking in the sun on rocks or logs, this helps them warm up and remove leeches. They can live up to 35–40 years. Though they have no teeth, their jaw plates help grip food. They must eat in water and have a varied diet of plants, fish, insects, and crustaceans.