Illinois is the top pumpkin-growing state in the U.S., with Will County among the top 10 producers. Though native to Central America, pumpkins are now widely grown here. They are fruits from the cucurbit family, which also includes cucumbers, squash and melons. The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word for large melon. Pumpkin flesh is used in pies, breads and soups, while the seeds are often roasted for a snack.

White-footed mice live mostly outdoors in forests and brush, staying active at night and usually alone. They are good swimmers and climbers with keen senses. These omnivores eat seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, and insects, storing food for winter. They breed from spring to fall, with females having 2 to 5 blind, furless babies cared for weeks. They typically live about a year in the wild.

Turkey vultures are large birds with dark feathers and bright red, featherless heads. They eat dead animals, called carrion, using their strong sense of smell to find food. By consuming carcasses, they play a vital role in the ecosystem by preventing disease and reducing unpleasant smells. Their unique diet and appearance make them easy to recognize and important for nature’s cleanup.

Illinois has only two toad species and just one lives in northern Illinois the American toad. They live on land but need shallow water for breeding hiding and feeding. Unlike frogs they have dry bumpy skin with warts. Their color ranges from brown to gray green or red. American toads are smaller than bullfrogs growing only 2 to 3½ inches long and mainly eat insects worms and other small invertebrates.

Luna moths are easy to spot with their green color, long curved hindwing tails, and four moon like spots which is how they got their name. They have a wingspan between three and four and a half inches. The tails help confuse predators like bats. Found across most of the United States, they prefer deciduous forests because their caterpillars eat tree leaves. As moths, they live about a week and do not eat.

Northern map turtles are medium-sized turtles found in Illinois, with females larger than males. They live in slow-moving water and are shy, often diving in when disturbed. They eat both plants and animals like insects and crustaceans. Their name comes from the map-like markings on their dark shells.

Tornadoes are powerful, dangerous storms formed by rotating winds from thunderstorms. The U.S. sees about 1,200 tornadoes yearly, more than any other country. While most common in the Midwest during June and July, they can occur year-round, often between 4 and 9 p.m. Always take tornado warnings seriously and seek shelter in a basement or interior room.

There are over 12,000 ant species and an estimated 20 quadrillion ants worldwide. Ants live almost everywhere except places like Antarctica. They come in many colors and live in social colonies that can have hundreds of thousands of ants. Each ant has a specific job, and diets vary by species. Ants can carry objects 10 to 50 times their own weight, and some even eat animals larger than themselves.