Creature Features

Willy's Wilderness

Dec 103 min read

Mistaken ID: Northern Harriers Often Confused for Owls

Is that an owl flying over that grassland? Close! It’s the most owl-like hawk around: the northern harrier. They are great fun to watch...

Dec 54 min read

Hold Your Nose: Five Fun Facts About Skunks

Skunks are more than just stink and stripes. There's probably a lot you don't know about them, including about their well-known defense mech

Nov 64 min read

The Gray Wolf Is the Top Dog of the Canine Family

They are playful, intelligent and devoted to family. They care for their sick, educate their young and have complex social lives. Are we...

Oct 153 min read

Get to Know the Secret Lives of Eastern Red Bats

It’s spooky season! Look at all the spiderwebs, bones and bats decorating your neighborhood. Why not learn about the actual animals that...

Sep 203 min read

The Green Heron Is a Bird That Defies Expectations

As you walk along a pond or river trail, it’s common to see and hear evidence of animals nearby — water rings where a fish just jumped,...

Sep 172 min read

Don't Swat These Bugs; Crane Flies Are Harmless

Don't swat next time you see what you think is a giant mosquito. Get a good look instead because it might not be a mosquito at all....

Sep 133 min read

Turtles Out of Water: Box Turtles Are Land Lovers

When you think of turtles, what comes to mind? You might first think of their hard, protective shells. Or maybe you think about how...

Sep 64 min read

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Common Spider This Fall

Who is that yellow, black and white patterned spider you found in your yard? It’s big, has eight long legs and an unusual web, and it is...

Aug 274 min read

Ordinary Flies Have Some Amazing Superpowers

We tend to swat flies away — from our faces, our food, our houses. But what if we took a closer look instead? Flies are so common, and...

Jul 93 min read

Bugs That Look Like Turtles? Meet Tortoise Beetles

Is that a turtle? Nope, it’s a beetle with some very cool features and behaviors! Tortoise beetles are tiny, cute and often striking....

Jun 283 min read

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak: A Sweet-Singing Bird

For many people, the sight of a rose-breasted grosbeak at a backyard bird feeder or flitting about a forest is a welcome one. These birds...

Jun 113 min read

The Sweet History of the Honeybee

What do you think of when you hear the word bee? Do images of honey and hives come to mind? Or maybe the buzzing sound they make? There...

May 283 min read

Eastern Musk Turtles Are Small but Mighty

The eastern musk turtle, or common musk turtle, is one of the smallest turtles not only here in Will County, but all over the world! But don

May 103 min read

Whole Lot of Holes: Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers Leave Signs of Presence

Woodpeckers are one of those types of birds we can count on seeing all year long in northern Illinois. Even in the dead of winter, we can...

Apr 164 min read

The Secret Life of Tiger Salamanders

Did you know Illinois has a state amphibian? It’s the tiger salamander. Have you ever seen one? Most people answer no when asked this...

Apr 23 min read

Brown-headed Cowbirds Rely on Tricks for Successful Nesting

A rise in practical jokes and tricks happens in homes, schools and workplaces thanks to April Fool’s Day. Do animals have any tricks up...

Mar 193 min read

Feisty Red-winged Blackbirds Make Presence Known

Red-winged blackbirds are one of our most familiar and recognizable birds. We recognize them both because of their appearance and because...

Mar 123 min read

Eyes to the Skies: Red-Tailed Hawks are High Flyers

Have you seen a red-tailed hawk? Probably! They are all around, especially in colder months. You just have to know how to spot them....

Mar 84 min read

Dig It: Little-Seen Voles Live Their Lives Underground

If you think about the animals that live just below our feet, what comes to mind? Probably ants and other insect species. Or maybe...

Feb 94 min read

European Starlings: The Stars of the Sky

Many fascinating birds flock to our feeders and fly across the sky, so it’s easy to overlook a few. Below are five facts about one of the...

Willy's Wilderness

Willy's Wilderness

Willy's Wilderness

This website is sponsored by

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use