Wild files

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.

When we think about rodents, we usually think first of small creatures, but not all rodents are small. A squirrel is a rodent, and they are certainly larger than mice and gerbils. Muskrats are rodents too. Even beavers are rodents, but they aren't the largest rodent of all. That title goes to the capybara, a curious looking animal that can grow to be twice the size of a beaver!

A person sitting at a table holding up two 2-liter soda bottles connected at their openings to form a tornado model.

Rolling over and playing dead might not seem like the best protective strategy, but for some animals it's just right.

The spoonleaf sundew is a small carnivorous plant found in Will County. It lives in wet, acidic soil and supplements its diet by trapping and digesting insects with sticky, dew-like drops on its leaves. Though it looks delicate, this plant is a fierce predator and a great example of nature’s adaptability.

Feeding ducks bread may seem kind, but it’s harmful to their health. Bread lacks the nutrients ducks need and can lead to malnutrition, especially in ducklings. Instead of bread, offer healthy treats like corn, veggie scraps, or fruit — or better yet, let ducks find their own natural food to stay strong and thrive.

Illinois is nicknamed the Prairie State for its wide open landscapes and native plants. Keep an eye out for state symbols on your next visit: the violet, our state flower, blooms in many colors; milkweed supports monarchs as our wildflower; big bluestem, the tallest prairie grass, grows up to 8 feet tall; and the mighty white oak, our state tree, feeds wildlife and lives for centuries.

Peregrine falcons are rare but incredible birds found on six continents. Known as the fastest-diving bird, they can reach speeds up to 200 mph when hunting. They mainly eat other birds and can migrate up to 9,000 miles. Once nearly gone from the U.S. due to DDT, conservation efforts helped their recovery. Today, they’re thriving with a global population of 340,000.

Make a fun, colorful pinwheel using paper, scissors, a tack, and a straw or pencil. Cut a square, mark the center, draw and cut lines from corners to the middle, fold in every other corner, and secure with a pin. Attach it to a straw or pencil, then watch it spin in the summer breeze!

The double-crested cormorant is a sleek, black water bird known for expert diving and fishing. Found across the U.S., it dives underwater to catch fish using webbed feet and sharp-hooked beaks. After fishing, they spread their wings to dry. You can spot them nesting in colonies at preserves like Lake Renwick. Once hunted, their population has since rebounded and is now stable.

Pollinators like bees and butterflies get the spotlight, but moths, beetles, and flies play vital roles too. Moths work the night shift, beetles have been pollinating since dino days, and flies help early blooms. Each has unique ways of spreading pollen, keeping nature thriving. So next time you see one, say “Thanks, pollinators!”

Moles are expert diggers that spend most of their lives underground. The eastern mole, common in Illinois, digs in soft, moist soil using strong, shovel-like front feet. They build shallow tunnels to hunt insects and deep tunnels for rest and raising young. Though rarely seen, moles help improve soil health by aerating and turning it over. Despite poor vision, their adaptations make them perfectly suited for life below ground.

Fishing is full of surprises so pack light stay patient and enjoy nature. Be quiet near the shore to avoid scaring wildlife. Look for fish near weeds rocks or logs. If you get snagged stay calm and try different angles to free your hook and always clean up your line. Switch techniques if fish are not biting and remember the real win is spending time outside even if you do not catch a thing.

Robin’s egg blue comes from a pigment called biliverdin in the female’s blood, not from food. Many birds lay blue eggs, and egg color comes from two pigments: biliverdin (blue or green) and protoporphyrin (reddish-brown). Egg colors may offer camouflage or sun protection. Robins lay 3 to 5 eggs and incubate them for 12 to 14 days. Hatchlings fledge about two weeks after hatching and learn to fly shortly after.

Hi I’m the wild strawberry also called Virginia or common strawberry found across Illinois in prairies meadows and woodlands I bloom in late spring with white flowers and grow sweet heart-shaped berries if conditions are right Loved by wildlife and pollinators I am one of the parent plants of the grocery store strawberry and part of the fragrant rose family.

The indigo bunting is a small, bright blue songbird seen in Illinois during breeding season. Only males are a vibrant blue, and their color comes from light scattering, not pigment. They sing sweet, repetitive songs and migrate up to 1,200 miles, using the stars to navigate. Females build low nests and raise the young. Though their population has declined, they remain common and can be found in shrubby areas across the eastern U.S.

Fishing is a fun way to enjoy nature. Beginners need some fishing line, a rod and a reel with a bobber, small hooks, a weight, nail clippers and bait in your tackle box. Practice by learning to tie a Palomar knot and casting gently. Watch the bobber for bites, then lift the rod to hook the fish. Use wet hands to handle the fish and remove the hook carefully. Be patient and enjoy the outdoors.

Fennec foxes, the world’s smallest foxes, live in the Sahara Desert and stay cool with large ears that release heat and with their fast-breathing rate. Weighing 2 to 3 pounds, they are nocturnal, hunting insects, rodents and plants at night. Their sandy-colored fur acts as camouflage, helping them hide from predators. Fennec foxes are monogamous and raise kits in burrows. Though often near others, they are solitary and rely on adaptations to thrive in harsh environments.

Frog and toad eggs in Will County are laid underwater in jelly-like clusters to stay moist. Each egg has a yolk that feeds the growing tadpole. Tadpoles hatch with a tiny tail, mouth and gills, later growing legs and switching from algae to meat as they become froglets. The numbers of eggs laid and the time it takes to grow into adults depends on the frog’s species.

The black-crowned night heron is a short, stocky, mostly nocturnal wetland bird. Once common in Illinois, it’s now endangered in the state due to habitat loss. These herons hunt at night, except during breeding season where they hunt during the say. They breed in colonies and care for their young together. Though rare locally, they live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. A large colony now lives at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, helping scientists learn how to p