Common goldeneyes are striking ducks with bright yellow eyes, whistling wings, and unique mating dances. They nest in tree cavities, and hatchlings leap 40 feet the day after hatching. They are fast fliers and skilled divers that crave aquatic animals and plants. Seen in Will County lakes during winter, they head north to nest in summer. Spot them at local preserves like Lake Renwick and Rock Run Rookery. Keep an eye out for these amazing waterfowl!

Red foxes are known for their red fur and white-tipped tails; however, their color can vary. They thrive in diverse habitats, including urban areas, and are nocturnal. In Illinois, they raise litters of 1–11 kits in spring. Red foxes use their keen hearing to hunt rodents and small mammals. Red foxes are the world’s largest fox species and live across the Northern Hemisphere. Agile and clever, they use their tails for balance, warmth, and signaling.

Will County hosts 8 owl species, including short- and long-eared owls. Their "ears" are actually feather tufts used for communication. Their true ears are inner openings, hidden by facial feathers that direct sound. Short-eared owls have light-colored faces, streaked bellies, and roost on grasslands. Long-eared owls have orange faces, striped bellies, and prefer forests. Their calls and flight patterns differ, and winter is the best time to spot these camouflaged, nocturnal b

Wolf spiders are fast, hairy hunters found worldwide except Antarctica. Their drab colors blend in with nature and protect them from predators. Named for their wolf-like traits, wolf spiders don’t spin webs but chase or ambush prey at night, using eight eyes and reflective eyeshine for vision. Females carry their egg sacs and young on their backs. They can live anywhere, but will most likely be found in lawns, under leaves, and rocks. Wolf spiders are fascinating and closer t

Named for their stripes, the nonvenomous common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, and all of its subspecies, are the most widespread snake across the United States as they are very adaptable and can survive in extreme temperatures. They prefer grassy, moist habitats. Garter snakes can have as many as 80 babies who are fully independent at birth. All snakes are carnivores and rely on their keen senses of smell and vision to hunt. Garter snakes not only slither but can also sw

Bluegills are small freshwater fish found throughout Illinois and are the state fish. Their fins give them speed and agility to escape predators and catch prey. They hide in plants and logs, use sharp dorsal spines for defense, and detect water vibrations to sense danger or food. With good eyesight and a special throat suction, they eat insects, larvae and small fish. Despite their size, bluegills thrive thanks to smart adaptations.

Though they may look like an ant, the ant-mimicking jumping spider only has two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), eight legs, and no antennae, whereas insects have three body parts (a head, a thorax and an abdomen), six legs, and antennae. This spider looks like an ant to protect itself from potential predators since many species avoid eating ants. Ant-mimicking jumping spiders mimic two different species of ants during their lifecycle and can engage in certain ant beha

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.