A key part of a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly or a moth is a chrysalis or a cocoon within the transitional pupal stage. For butterflies, metamorphosis occurs inside a chrysalis. For moths, this transformation occurs inside a cocoon. Chrysalides are hard, smooth exoskeletons while cocoons are spun from silk. Chrysalises can be found hanging from a structure while cocoons are buried in the ground or on the side of a structure. Both coverings offer protection to

America’s prairies once spanned 170 million acres but now less than 1% remains due to farming. Illinois was mostly prairie in 1820, earning its nickname the Prairie State, but most has since vanished. Prairies support rich plant and animal life and exist worldwide under other names. The loss of prairie contributed to the 1930s Dust Bowl, as replacing deep-rooted prairie plants with shallow crops led to soil erosion and massive dust storms.

Create magical nature potions this October using jars, water, and natural items like leaves, dirt, and acorns. Use a stick as a wand, stir your mix, and activate it with imagination! Keep potions as spooky decorations but return them back to nature once completely finished. Record ingredients and effects in a “spell book” for future fun. Sample recipes include Owl Transfiguration, Butterfly Wing Enhancement, and Strength of a Bear.

Turtles are protected by their hard shells. Of over 200 turtle species worldwide, 17 live in Illinois and 11 in Will County. Habitat loss and the pet trade threaten many species, including the endangered Blanding’s and spotted turtles, and the threatened ornate box turtle. Turtles live in various habitats, from wetlands to forests, and eat both plants and animals. You can help protect them by not disturbing wild turtles, avoiding mesh netting, and keeping pets from roaming fr

Beetles have adapted for survival in many ways. They have outer shells, formally known as exoskeletons, that act as an armored shield, they can excrete unpleasant smells that are stored in their bodies to keep predators away, and some have evolved to be red which is a color that indicates warning in nature. Their red shells is a way of saying stay away to predators. Some beetles, like the ladybug, play dead and can release smelly blood from their legs in a process called refl

Orb weaver spiders shine in late summer and fall with large, beautiful webs. Females build sticky, circular webs to catch insects while males focus on mating. Common types include the black and yellow Argiope with a zigzag stabilimentum, the marbled orbweaver with marbled orange patterns near water, and the small spined micrathena with spiky abdomens in forests. These gentle spiders help control pests and can be spotted along trails in preserves.

Many people mistake harmless northern water snakes for venomous cottonmouths, but no venomous snakes live in Will County. Cottonmouths, also called water moccasins, only live in southern Illinois. While both snakes look similar, cottonmouths have thicker bodies, block-shaped heads, and heat-sensing pits. Northern water snakes are thinner, with round pupils and no pits. If you see a snake in the water here, it’s not venomous.

Hundreds of years ago, lions, bison, black bears, cougars, elks, gray wolves and porcupines use to roam modern day Illinois. However, as land use in the state began to change during the 1800s, so did the plants and animals that lived here. Prairies and forests were replaced with agricultural fields causing animals to move to more suitable habitats while others were hunted or driven away.