Crows are among the smartest birds, with problem-solving and communication skills like chimpanzees. They use and even make tools to catch food. Social by nature, they live in family groups and can recognize human faces. Crows may avoid or even hold grudges against people they distrust and have been known to leave gifts for those who feed them.

Blue jay feathers are not truly blue. They contain brown pigment, but light scattering makes them appear blue. Tiny air and keratin pockets in the feathers reflect blue light while absorbing other colors. This same effect happens in bluebirds, indigo buntings, and is also why the sky looks blue.

Woodchuck and groundhog are two names for the same animal, known for Groundhog Day on February 2. While they are not reliable weather predictors, they are excellent diggers. Their burrows can be up to 30 feet long and include tunnels, chambers and even separate areas for waste, much like bathrooms.

Great egrets, tall and elegant wading birds, are common in Will County from spring to fall. Once nearly extinct due to the fashion industry and feather trade, they’re now well populated and protected. Egrets are all-white with black legs and yellow bills and flash a green patch during breeding season. They eat fish, insects, reptiles, and more. They are solitary, but nest in colonies. Harshly, chicks may kill siblings when competing for resources.

Dandelions may seem like weeds, but they help loosen and aerate soil, benefiting other plants and lawns naturally. They’ve been used medicinally for centuries to treat ailments like toothaches and fevers. Plus, kids enjoy blowing their fluffy seed heads, spreading thousands of seeds. Despite their bad reputation, dandelions play a helpful role in nature and have long been part of fun childhood moments.

Snapping turtles are the largest turtles in northern Illinois. Known for their powerful bite, they are not aggressive but will defend themselves if threatened. These turtles spend most of their time underwater and eat both plants and animals. In spring, they come on land to lay eggs, which is when people are most likely to see them. If you spot one, give it space and observe from a distance.

River otters are playful animals often seen sliding on land and splashing into water. Their play helps young otters learn vital skills like hunting, swimming, and social bonding. Otter pups cannot swim at birth, so around 2 months old, their mothers gently push them into the water and supervise until they learn.

Great blue herons are tall, graceful birds found near shallow water in Will County. They stand up to 4.5 feet tall with 5.5-foot wingspans but weigh little due to hollow bones. Great blue herons spend up to 90% of their waking time hunting for fish and more with stealth and speed, and nest in large colonies high in trees. During nesting season (March–August), Lake Renwick Heron Rookery is closed to protect them, but you can still view them from Copley Nature Park or during sp