Coyotes, Illinois’ largest predator, are part of the dog family and closely related to wolves. They mainly eat animals like rabbits and mice. While they may occasionally hunt small pets, coyotes usually avoid humans. To keep pets safe, don’t leave them unattended outside, especially at night.

In colder months, freshwater turtles enter brumation - a deep, inactive state - nestled into mud at the bottom of ponds, lakes or rivers. Land turtles brumate underground instead. Their cold-bloodedness slows down their metabolism and bodily functions, allowing them to survive without food or oxygen. Their shells can absorb and neutralize lactic acid. Unlike air, water remains above freezing temperatures, keeping turtles safe. In spring, rising water temps and sunlight signal

Wild turkeys live throughout Will County and are very different from farm-raised turkeys. They can fly short distances at speeds up to 50 miles per hour to escape predators. Wild turkeys have dark brown feathers with colorful iridescence, while farm turkeys are mostly white with red wattles. Even though they are a Thanksgiving tradition now, turkeys probably were not part of the first Thanksgiving meal.

Woolly bear caterpillars, which grow into Isabella tiger moths, are often thought to predict winter based on their brown band size. However, band size is actually linked to age and diet. While they can’t forecast weather, they do have a cool survival trick. They produce glycerol, a natural antifreeze, that protects their cells when they freeze in winter, helping them survive extreme cold.

Acorns are in high demand in fall as animals like squirrels, deer, chipmunks, and birds stock up for winter. Acorns are oak tree seeds, with a smooth seed and a rough “hat” called a cupule. Oak trees don’t produce the same number each year—mast years bring many more acorns, sometimes up to 10,000 per tree, occurring every two to five years for reasons scientists still study.

Wolf spiders may look scary, but they aren’t dangerous to humans. They’re not aggressive, and their bites aren’t harmful. There are 2,000 to 3,000 wolf spider species worldwide, with 47 in Illinois. Female wolf spiders carry their egg sacs, then let the babies climb onto their backs after hatching, giving them a ride until they’re ready to live on their own.

As leaves fall, look for messy clumps in trees - these are squirrel nests, or dreys. Built from twigs, leaves, and moss, dreys are sturdy, often waterproof homes about 30 feet up. Inside, they’re lined with dry grasses, leaves and bark, however, paper and plastic litter can also be found. Squirrels make several dreys at a time and abandon it after one to two years of use. Some use tree cavities in the winter.

The bright fall colors we love have been in leaves all along, but chlorophyll, which makes leaves green, hides them during spring and summer. As days get shorter in fall, chlorophyll breaks down, revealing pigments like xanthophylls (yellow), carotenoids (orange), and anthocyanins (red). These pigments create the vibrant autumn colors we enjoy each year.