Wild files

Is it a wasp, a mantis or a fly? Meet the brown wasp mantidfly, an interesting insect that uses mimicry and special claws to survive in the wild.

Think you know an insect when you see one? Learn what makes an insect an insect, then test your skills with earthworms, spiders, praying mantises and fireflies.

Learn fun facts about cottontail rabbits, including where they live, how many babies they have and why they are important to Illinois ecosystems.

Discover the surprising stages of ladybug metamorphosis, from tiny yellow eggs to helpful garden heroes.

Before pedaling your way through the preserves, make sure you are ready to ride safely. Discover easy bike safety tips that help kids enjoy outdoor adventures with confidence.

Flying snakes don't really fly, they glide. Discover how paradise tree snakes soar through the forests of Asia and what makes them one of nature's most surprising reptiles.

Get to the know the endangered turtles that live at Isle a la Cache Museum.

Learn about scarlet tanagers, bright red birds that live high in forest trees. Discover where they live, what they eat and why they are hard to spot.

It's gardening season, and many people are worrying about the weeds in their gardening beds. Instead, they should be asking what classifies something as a weed. And can weeds actually be useful?

Discover the birds making noise this spring and summer! Learn about bluebirds, owls, towhees and kingfishers while exploring nature with your ears.

Explore the May night sky with this simple guide. Discover stars, constellations, and fun ways to watch the sky at night.

Bearded vultures are not like other birds. These large mountain birds eat bones and even drop them from the sky to crack them open. Discover how they survive and why they are so unique.

Join Willy the Woodchuck on a river adventure. Learn how rivers start, grow and travel from source to sea.

Have you ever walked across the sand at the beach on a hot summer day? It’s hot, right? Good thing you can cool off your feet by dipping them in the water. But wait? Why is the sand so much hotter than the water? Try this simple at-home experiment to find out.

Canada geese aren’t mean—they’re protective. Learn why goose encounters increase in spring and how to safely share space with these devoted parents.

Nothing in nature is “just” anything. From squirrels to geese to trees, discover the amazing world right outside your door.

Can you solve this fun nature riddle? Follow clues to discover a sneaky organism that can climb, grows berries and has leaves of three.

Not all deciduous trees seem know they are supposed to lose their leaves. These leaves that just can't seem to let go get the first part of the equation right. The green color fades, but that's where the process stops. Those leaves never seem to fall.

African buffalo are one of just two buffalo species in the world, but they are also relatives of the bison that roam North America.

Any time of year is a good time to look for animal tracks, and they can actually tell us quite a bit about who left them.