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Willy's Wilderness
Willy's Wilderness
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Feb 15, 20231 min read
Fast Fact: Pileated Woodpeckers
Many of our local woodpeckers sport black, white and red feathers, and the pileated woodpecker is one of them. It’s easy to distinguish...
Feb 1, 20231 min read
Fast Fact: Red Squirrels
You’ve probably seen fox squirrels and gray squirrels scurrying around our trees and forests, but you may not have spied a red squirrel...
Jan 18, 20231 min read
Fast Fact: Snowy Owls
Spotting a snowy owl can be a real thrill because these owls aren’t all that common in our area, and they are only here in the winter....
Dec 29, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Dark-eyed Juncos
Surely you’ve heard that some birds fly south for the winter, right? Well, dark-eyed juncos fly south too, but for them, northern...
Dec 22, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Reindeer
In the spirit of Christmas, let’s learn a little more about Santa’s reindeer gang. Reindeer, which we more commonly known as caribou, are...
Dec 12, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Canada Geese
Canada geese are one of the most well-known and widespread birds, but many people don’t like them because they can be a little aggressive...
Dec 7, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: White-tailed Deer
Did you know white-tailed deer are the biggest mammal living in the wild in Illinois? Bears occasionally pass through our state but don’t...
Dec 1, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Coyotes
Coyotes are part of the dog family, and they are most closely related to wolves. Coyotes are the largest predator in Illinois. They...
Nov 22, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Wild Turkeys
We have wild turkeys roaming all across Will County, but these wild birds are quite a bit different than the turkeys that grace our...
Nov 14, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Woolly Bear Caterpillars
Have you ever seen one of these brown and black caterpillars? These are woolly bear caterpillars, and they grow up to be Isabella tiger...
Nov 9, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Acorns
Acorns are in high demand at this time of year, with animals eating up and stocking up to prepare for winter. Squirrels are the most...
Oct 31, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Wolf Spiders
If you’re not a fan of spiders, wolf spiders might stop you in your tracks. Wolf spiders tend to be big and hairy, making them a little...
Oct 24, 20221 min read
Fast Facts: Fall Color
Do you love how the leaves change color each fall? The pigments that create the bright yellows and oranges that make the fall landscape...
Oct 17, 20221 min read
Fast Facts: Lady beetles
What you probably call a ladybug would more appropriately be called a lady beetle. Why? Because ladybugs are really beetles, not bugs....
Oct 12, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Owl Pellets
What is an owl pellet? It’s not owl poop, as is sometimes thought. Owl pellets are bits of undigested food that owls regurgitate a few...
Oct 5, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Red-tailed Hawks
Red-tailed hawks are the most familiar and common hawks in North America, often seen soaring overhead and perched upon posts scanning the...
Sep 28, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Red Foxes
Are you as clever and cunning as a fox? A fox’s clever and cunning behavior serve it well in the animal kingdom, where it’s often eat or...
Sep 19, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Bobcats
Did you know bobcats live in Illinois? They were once nearly eliminated from our state, but their population has since recovered. They...
Sep 14, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Spider Silk
If you’ve ever walked into a spider web, you probably know how sticky it is. The stickiness comes from a glue-like substance the spiders...
Sep 8, 20221 min read
Fast Fact: Daddy Long Legs
A daddy long legs might be one of the few spiders you recognize, so it might surprise you to learn they aren’t really spiders at all....
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