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.

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.

-What we call ladybugs are actually lady beetles because beetles and bugs are different insect orders. Illinois has many species, both native and non-native. Native lady beetles help by eating garden pests, while non-native ones, like the Asian lady beetle, can be invasive and bite. Lady beetles are known for their spots, which vary in number. Not all lady beetles have spots, and not all are female despite their name.

Owl pellets are not poop but regurgitated bits of undigested food like bones, fur, and feathers. Owls swallow prey whole and can’t digest those parts, so they form a pellet in their gizzard and spit it out. Found under roosting spots, pellets can show what owls have eaten. If you dissect one, wear gloves. Other birds like hawks and herons also produce pellets.

Red-tailed hawks are common North American raptors known for sharp talons, keen eyesight, and hooked beaks. They mainly eat small mammals like mice and rabbits but can catch prey up to 5 pounds. Adaptable to many habitats, they live in deserts, rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. In Illinois, they are found in both rural and urban areas, often seen soaring or perched while hunting.

Bobcats live across Illinois, mostly in the southern half, after recovering from near elimination. They are nocturnal and rarely seen. About twice the size of house cats, bobcats have short, bobbed tails and tufts of fur on their ears. They are skilled hunters, stalking and pouncing on small animals like rodents, rabbits, and birds, biting their prey in the neck to catch it.

All spiders make silk, but most do not use it to spin webs. Many use it to build nests, wrap prey, create cocoons, or help them move. Some even produce different silks for different tasks. Spider silk is stronger than any other natural or man made fiber because of its unique protein structure. Scientists are working to develop a man made version with the same strength and flexibility.