Wild files

Looking for a place to let the kids explore this fall? Check out Hickory Creek Preserve.

Check out this sweet activity to learn how archaeologists dig into the earth to learn about the past.

Pumpkin Jack is having the time of his life this autumn, but are his days of fun numbered? They don't have to be if his family extends the fun by bringing him to the Forest Preserve's Pumpkin Smash events on Nov. 8.

Interpretive naturalist Jenna Krukowski helps us dig into the history of the Forest Preserve District's Joliet Iron Works Historic Site.

What’s your favorite part of fall? Picking apples? Trick-or-treating? Those are all fun fall activities, and watching as the leaves change color each autumn is another one of the hallmarks of the season. Learn why the leaves change color each fall.

What's that eerie green glow in the forest? It could be mushrooms glowing in the dark.

If you’ve ever heard someone calling out in the woods, “Who cooks for you?” there’s probably a barred owl nearby. These distinctive-looking owls are best known for their hard-to-miss call, which sounds like they are calling out: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?"

Have you ever heard that sunflowers will follow the sun across the sky? They do in a way. The flowers are firmly rooted to the ground where they grow, but the flower heads will move throughout the day so they are always facing the sun.

How are animals related? System of taxonomy helps us understand.

Boa constrictors are among the most well-known snakes in the world thanks to how they are portrayed in popular culture. If the movies were to be believed, boa constrictors are a major threat to people. The reality is a little different. Boa constrictors are large snakes, and they do kill their prey by wrapping their bodies around their catch and constricting it. That’s why they are called boa constrictors.

Corn and items made from corn are so much a part of our lives that it’s no wonder corn is not just one but three of our state symbols!

What's faster and smaller than a butterfly but still somehow a butterfly? A skipper! Like moths and butterflies, skippers belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. At one time, skippers were thought to be their own distinct group within the order, but scientists now classify them as a type of butterfly.

Great horned owls can live in many places, including in your very own neighborhood. These large owls are at home in forests, wetlands, grasslands and even cities.

Sugar gliders are marsupials that live in Australia and New Guinea, but they may remind you a little of the squirrels we see all over Illinois.

If you’ve visited a river or a lake recently, you might have seen some insects in the water. If you took a second look, you might have noticed that some bugs sit on the water. How does that happen?! See for yourself with this experiment.

Illinois is home to many interesting and diverse critters that fly, crawl, swim and walk through our rivers, forests and prairies. But do you know which were chosen to represent the state?  

What looks like a lizard but isn't? A salamander. Although salamanders share some physical characteristics with lizards, they have plenty of differences. They aren't even closely related.

Birds migrate, bats migrate, creatures of the oceans migrate, but did you know insects also migrate? Not all insects migrate, but a few of our local species head south for winter.

Creepy-crawly earwigs have a bad reputation. Their name alone can give you the heebie-jeebies! Earwigs? Why are they called earwigs? Surely because they love crawling in small cavities ... like human ears! Luckily, that's not the case. They are actually named for the shape of their wings.

Monee Reservoir is among the most popular Will County preserves. It’s a great place to spend some time fishing or out on the water in a boat. As popular as it may be, it doesn’t get much attention as a hiking destination. It's a great place for a family hike in any season.