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.

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.

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!

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

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