Turkey vultures and black vultures help clean the environment by eating dead animals. Turkey vultures are more common in northern Illinois and have red heads and dark brown feathers. Black vultures have black heads and black feathers with white wing tips. Turkey vultures use smell to find food while black vultures rely on sight. Though turkey vultures are bigger, black vultures often work together to compete for food.

Oak trees are vital keystone species that support more life than any other tree in North America. They are among the longest-living trees in the world and provide food, shelter, and habitat to wildlife such as caterpillars. White oaks drop acorns yearly; red oaks, every other year. Oaks live for centuries and are known to be symbols of strength. Only 1 in 1,000 acorns becomes a tree, but the rest feed wildlife. Oak trees also played key roles in history, shipbuilding, and cul

Shooting stars are actually meteors, which are space rocks burning as they fall through Earth’s atmosphere. If a rock survives the fall and lands, it is called a meteorite. When Earth passes through a comet’s debris, we get a meteor shower. Major showers include the Perseids, Orionids, Geminids, and Lyrids. To see them best, go to a dark area away from city lights, let your eyes adjust, and watch the sky.

Wolves and coyotes are wild canines often confused due to similar looks. Wolves are larger, with blockier snouts, smaller ears, and elevated tails when walking. Coyotes are smaller, have pointed snouts and ears, and droop their tails. Wolves once lived in Illinois but are now rare. Coyotes are common across Illinois and North America. Wolves were removed from the endangered species list in 2020 and may be removed from the Illinois list in 2025.

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.

American white pelicans migrate through Will County each spring and fall, stopping to rest and feed. These large birds have 9-foot wingspans and use thermals to soar. Their long beaks grow a seasonal bump during mating, and their throat pouch helps them scoop fish and stay cool. Pelicans often hunt cooperatively by corralling fish. Many stop at the confluence near Four Rivers, where up to 900 have been seen during fall migration.

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.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass differ in more than just mouth size. Largemouth have bigger bodies and jaws that extend past their eyes; smallmouth jaws stop at the eye’s center. Largemouth are greenish with horizontal stripes and a split-like dorsal fin. Smallmouth are brownish with vertical stripes and a connected dorsal fin. Largemouth prefer warm, murky water and ambush prey, while smallmouth hunt in cooler, clear water. Both are fun to catch and found in many U.S. lakes