It is never truly too cold to snow because moisture, not temperature, is the key factor. Snow can fall at any temperature above absolute zero. While heavy snow is more common at 15 degrees or warmer, it can still occur in colder places like Yakutsk, Russia. Colder air holds less moisture, so snow tends to be lighter and fluffier with a higher snow ratio, meaning more inches of snow from less water.

Reindeer, also known as caribou, are relatives of the white-tailed deer found in Will County. Unlike other deer, both male and female caribou grow antlers, so Santa’s reindeer could be girls. Caribou live in northern forests of Alaska and Canada and migrate over 3,000 miles each year—the longest of any land mammal in North America. And no, none have been found with glowing red noses like Rudolph.

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

Birds are full of surprises! Crows hold "funerals" to assess danger, hummingbirds can fly backwards, and some birds rub ants on themselves (anting) to stay clean. Owls swallow prey whole and regurgitate pellets, while shrikes impale prey with sharp objects for later. Woodpeckers can peck 16 times per second, and pigeons recognize human faces. Blue jays collect paint chips for calcium, some birds sleep while flying, and turkey vultures defend themselves by vomiting!

Canada geese are known for being aggressive in spring during mating season. They mate for life, choosing partners of similar size at age 2 or 3. Each spring, females lay 2 to 10 eggs and stay on the nest while males guard it. The goslings stay with their parents for about a year before joining a group of juveniles.

White-tailed deer are the largest wild mammal in Illinois, weighing 125–300 pounds and standing up to 3½ feet tall. Only males grow antlers. Though bears and bison are seen, they don’t live wild in Illinois. Deer live in urban, suburban and rural areas, wherever food is available. They eat grasses, leaves, twigs, fruits and, in farm areas, crops like corn and soybeans.

Early European settlers mistakenly called bison "buffalo," a name that has stuck to this day. Although both belong to the Bovidae family, bison differ from buffalo in size, horn shape, and geographic location. Indigenous groups like the Lakota depended on bison for survival. Westward expansion nearly wiped-out bison, reducing their numbers from millions to fewer than 1,000 by the 1890s. Today, around 500,000 exist, with Yellowstone hosting the only continuously wild herd.

Whiskers are special hairs packed with nerves that help mammals sense the world. Found on most mammals (except humans, platypuses, and echidnas), whiskers detect air currents, aid hunting, protect eyes, and help animals gauge space. Some, like walruses, have hundreds! Whiskers can even show emotion. Never cut or pull them—they’re super sensitive.