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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bullfrogs are the largest frogs in the U.S. and get their name from their loud, deep call that sounds like a cow’s moo. Their “jug-o-rum” call can be heard from over half a mile away. Bullfrogs can leap up to 6 feet and prefer shallow water, often sitting at the edge until they hop in to escape danger.

The eastern chipmunk, Illinois’ smallest ground squirrel, weighs 2 to 5 ounces and measures 8 to 12 inches long. Though tiny, they defend their territory by stomping and tail-waving. They live in forests, grasslands, and even yards, building burrows and nests both above and below ground.