Our view of nature has changed over time. Once thought endless, wildlife began disappearing in the 1800s. Laws like the Lacey Act and Bald Eagle Protection Act helped, but the 1973 Endangered Species Act became a key tool to protect and recover species. It prevents harm to listed species and their habitats. Thanks to it, animals like the bald eagle made a comeback. The work continues to protect wildlife for future generations.

No paint? Make your own with dirt and water. Mix until it’s the right texture, then use paper, rocks, or sidewalks as your canvas. Try painting with your hands, sticks, or other objects. Compare mud from different places and see how it changes when it dries. When you’re done, just rinse it away and start again. Let nature be your art supply this spring.

Heather Van Zyl set a goal to become best friends with a trail by visiting Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve weekly. Her first spring visits revealed fallen leaves, budding wildflowers like spring beauty and hepatica, and rare harbingers of spring blooms. She also noticed signs of deer and heard birds calling. By returning regularly, she hopes to witness seasonal changes and encourages others to connect with a special outdoor space too.

“April showers bring May flowers” isn’t fully accurate. In Will County, June is usually the rainiest month, not April. Flowers can bloom as early as mid-March, and the saying dates back to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. While April rain helps wake up the soil after winter, it’s not the top month for rainfall. Still, spring rains play a key role in helping flowers grow. Try tracking rainfall and watching nature change throughout the season.

Beavers shape their environment by building dams and lodges, creating wetlands that support diverse wildlife, filter water, and reduce fire risk. Their construction slows water flow, enriches soil, and provides food and shelter for many species. Beavers’ work benefits ecosystems and even humans.

Bobcats are the only wild cats in Illinois and are often confused with Canada lynx due to their similar appearance. Both have bobbed tails and ear tufts, but lynx have longer back legs, larger furry paws, and lighter coats. Bobcats are more widespread and eat a variety of prey, while lynx mostly eat snowshoe hares. Two other lynx species include the Eurasian lynx, found in Europe and Asia, and the rare Spanish, found only in Spain and Portugal.

American badgers live in northern Illinois and are known for their bold facial stripes and expert digging skills. They are mostly nocturnal, solitary, and live in underground burrows. They hunt small mammals and sometimes team up with coyotes to catch prey. Though not true hibernators, they enter torpor in winter, staying underground on cold days. Their strong sense of smell and digging abilities make them skilled hunters and survivors in the wild.

Watch pinecones open and close with this simple experiment. Soak a pinecone in water and see its scales slowly close to protect seeds. In dry weather they open to release seeds. Try warm water or use an oven to test how heat affects the process. Female cones grow at the top and hold seeds while soft male cones grow lower and produce pollen. All conifers including spruce fir and hemlock grow cones not just pines.