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Owling is a fun winter adventure. In Will County, you might spot great horned, barred, barn or eastern screech owls. Dress warmly, stay quiet and be patient. Go out at dusk or night, leave flashlights off, and try your own yard or neighborhood. Don’t play owl calls or get too close—February is nesting season. Watch, listen and enjoy the stars while searching for these amazing birds.

Winter is a great time to birdwatch, especially for American goldfinches, which live in Illinois year-round. Males are bright yellow in summer but turn dull in winter. They are the only finch that molts twice a year. Their roller-coaster flight and “po-ta-to-chip” call make them easy to spot. Goldfinches mainly eat seeds, preferring sunflowers, thistles and asters. They nest late in summer to feed their young with seeds.

Wolf spiders are large and hairy but harmless! They don’t spin webs to catch prey. Instead, they chase it down. They have eight eyes in three rows and fang-like mouthparts called chelicerae. Females carry eggs in silk sacs, and babies ride on their backs after hatching until they can survive on their own. Found worldwide, wolf spiders eat insects and small spiders. Though they may bite if provoked, their bite isn’t dangerous to humans.

Being one of only two weasel species to live in Illinois, the least weasel measures at only 10 inches in length making them the smallest carnivores in the state. Least weasels are fierce predators that prefer open areas like prairies and farm fields and are mostly nocturnal. The size of their home depends on rodent population where fewer pray equates to larger homes. Their slender bodies are built to hunt in underground tunnels. Weasels must stay active and keep eating.

tailed deer stay warm in winter with thick fur and hollow guard hairs that trap warm air, like a natural blanket. They also stay dry with oils that repel moisture. Other animals, like birds, otters and beavers, use similar methods. These adaptations inspire winter gear like puffy coats and new wetsuit designs. To stay safe outside in winter, wear layers and stay dry Just like the animals do!

Snakes prepare for winter by finding a hibernaculum - a cozy spot that stays above freezing. Being cold-blooded, they can’t generate body heat, so they stop eating and try to find a warm enough spot – often underground below the frost line - to survive the cold. Sometimes, many snakes share one space, creating a "mating ball" in spring. You can build a backyard hibernaculum to support snakes and other wildlife!

The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) is common in Illinois. They can live in many different habitats but avoid grasslands and crops. It has white feet, a white undertail, and varies in fur color. Omnivorous and nocturnal, white-footed mice eat seeds, insects, and fungi. They are prey for many animals and can help spread fungal spores. These mice breed quickly and rarely enter homes. They host deer ticks but also aid Lyme disease research and indicate forest health.

You can easily tell a thirteen-lined ground squirrel apart from a chipmunk by looking at the length and number of stripes they have. Native to the United States, thirteen-lined ground squirrels have 13 stripes on their backs that alternate between dark and light brown and have a tail that is half the length of its body. They are diurnal omnivores and can hibernate for as long as eight months. They spend a lot of time underground and can be found in areas with short grass.

Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes—much longer than humans. Beavers are naturally adapted for their aquatic lifestyle. They slow their heart rate, redirect blood to vital organs, and have high levels of myoglobin, a protein that supplies oxygen for aquatic mammals to use while under water. This lets them stay submerged longer. Though impressive, elephant seals can hold their breath for much longer, staying underwater for up to two hours.

Fishing spiders do not spin webs and can walk on water thanks to surface tension and hunt using vibrations. They fish for prey like minnows and tadpoles and can also hunt insects on land. Fishing spiders can breathe underwater using air bubbles trapped by special hairs. Though large and venomous, they’re mostly harmless to humans. They use their powers to survive, not for fun!

Make a yarn turtle craft using three green-colored Popsicle sticks tied together in a snowflake shape. Wrap yarn around the center to form a mound, then continue winding yarn around each stick in a circle. Use 2 to 4 yarn colors for variety.

A caller to Plum Creek Nature Center mistook a western fox snake for a rattlesnake after it hissed and rattled its tail, putting on a defensive show. These nonvenomous snakes live in grasslands, prairies and farm fields, where they help control rodent populations. They mimic rattlesnakes by shaking their tails in dry vegetation and may also hiss or release a musky smell. Instead of harming it, the caller released the snake - great news for their farm!

Named for their fearlessness and bravery, bold jumping spiders, Phidippus audax, are the most common jumping spiders in North America and can be found in forests, prairies, farmland, yards, and in homes. Their venom is not dangerous but can irritate the skin. Rather than spinning webs, these stealthy daytime hunters rely on their sharp vision to stalk prey and drop draglines (strands of silk) to secure themselves onto a surface. Juveniles can take up to six molts before becom

Snakes are unique in shedding their skin all at once in a process called ecdysis. They do this because their skin doesn’t grow with them, so it becomes too tight or worn out. Shedding also helps remove parasites. Younger snakes shed more often while adults shed a few times a year. Before shedding, their skin may appear dull and their eyes cloudy. They start the process by rubbing against rough surfaces. The shed skin can reveal scale patterns and even the snake’s species.

Native to North America, the eastern cottontail rabbit is the most common cottontail and the only wild rabbit that lives in Will County. They are herbivores and crepuscular, and can be found in open, grassy areas. Baby cottontail rabbits are called kittens and will reach their full adult size 6 months after birth. Their fur coat changes color throughout the year, shedding its light-brown summer fur to a thick, gray winter coat. Cottontail rabbits help regulate populations and

Meet Penny, a curious ball python at Plum Creek Nature Center! Kids can make their own spiral snake craft inspired by her using paper, scissors, and decorations. Penny is a constrictor with shiny, copper-colored scales and uses her tongue to smell. This fun activity teaches colors and patterns, mimicking real snake markings. Add a forked tongue and hang your creation! Learn more with a one-hour Nature Play Day video all about snakes.

Insects from the order Orthoptera, such as crickets, katydids, and grasshoppers, rub two body parts together to produce sound in a process called stridulation. Insects communicate through song to attract mates, to give directions, to claim territories, or to signal danger. Hairs located on their bodies can pick up sounds and help determine where they are coming from. Some insects use vibrations felt in their leg joints to hear. Others have tympanal organs that process vibrati

Coyotes are smart and adaptable predators found across Illinois, even in cities. They look like medium-sized dogs with yellow eyes and black-tipped tails. Mates raise pups in underground dens. Coyotes eat almost anything including rodents, berries, and carrion. They are nocturnal and often howl at night. They communicate using sound, smell, and body language. Coyotes help maintain healthy ecosystems by controlling prey populations.

Opossums cannot hang by their tails for long because their tails are not strong enough to support their weight. They use them to climb and balance but not for sleeping upside down. One real but rare behavior is playing dead. When threatened some opossums enter a catatonic state and appear lifeless to avoid predators. This usually happens in younger animals while most prefer to run away when scared.

Dew is moisture that forms because of condensation, when water vapor turns into water. Whether dew forms depend on how cloudy the sky was the night before. Dew is most likely in the morning following a warm, sunny day that led into a cooler night with clear skies. Dew point is the temperature at which dew will form and varies depending on factors like air temperature, time of day and location. The dew point is the temperature air needs to be cooled to for the humidity to be 1