A blizzard isn’t just about heavy snow—it’s defined by strong winds causing blowing snow and low visibility. Winds must gust at least 35 miles per hour, reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less for three hours or more. Blizzards can happen with falling snow or when wind blows snow already on the ground, called a ground blizzard. This makes travel difficult and unsafe, even if no new snow is falling.

Great horned owls are the most familiar owls to many people, known for their iconic look and hooting call. Despite their name, they don’t have horns. The “horns” are feather tufts called plumicorns, not ears. Other owls like long-eared, short-eared and eastern screech owls also have them, but great horned owls have the most prominent ones, which is how they got their name.

Eastern cottontail rabbits, named for their fluffy white tails, are common in Illinois. Females can have multiple litters a year, and it’s normal to find nests of baby rabbits. Don’t worry — the mother hasn’t abandoned them. To avoid attracting predators, she visits the nest only twice a day. The babies leave the nest at about three weeks old.

Bald eagles, our national bird, are known for their white heads, brown bodies, and yellow beaks—but they aren’t born that way. It takes about five years for young eagles to develop the iconic white head and tail. Juveniles are mostly brown with mottled wings. Despite their name, bald eagles aren’t truly bald—their white heads are fully feathered. The name comes from the Old English word “balde,” meaning white.

Crows and ravens are all-black birds often mistaken for each other, both unfairly seen as bad omens. In Illinois, you’re likely seeing a crow, as ravens are rare here. Ravens are much larger, have shaggy throat feathers, large, curved beaks, and make a croaking sound, not a caw. In flight, crows have fan-shaped tails and flap often, while ravens soar with wedge-shaped tails. Crows gather in flocks while ravens are usually seen in pairs.

Animals show love in many ways, from gift-giving to dancing and lifelong partnerships. Field crickets offer wings to mates, gray squirrels help build nests, and bald eagles and sandhill cranes mate for life and perform bonding dances. While it’s hard to define animal love like human love, these actions suggest deep connections.

Minks are powerful swimmers, climbers and hunters found near water across Illinois. With waterproof fur and sleek bodies, they hunt fish, frogs, birds and even beavers. Mostly nocturnal, they’re more visible in winter during mating season. Minks live in dens near water, often taking over muskrat burrows. They give birth in spring and raise 4 to 7 kits. Despite being top predators, they’re prey for coyotes, foxes and owls.

Fossils are rare remains or signs of ancient life, with some over 3 billion years old. Due to decomposition, fossil formations are very rare and need the right conditions to form. Less than 0.1% of organisms become fossils. There are four types: trace fossils (like footprints), mold fossils (imprints), cast fossils (replicas formed in molds), and true form fossils (actual body parts, often petrified, frozen or trapped). These fossils help scientists learn about life long ago.