The buzz

Quiz: How much do you know about badgers?

4/22/2025
A badger emerging from a hole in the ground.
(Photo via Shutterstock)

Badgers aren't as common as many of the other mammals that live across Will County, but they live in the grasslands all over Illinois today. That's hasn't always been the case, though.

In the 1800s, badgers were rare in our state, mostly because farmers and other land owners killed them because they caused damage to their land and their livestock. By the 1950s, their population has rebounded. 

See how much you know about these creatures on this quiz. You might want to study up ahead of time with the help of our creature feature.

Latest Buzz

The buzz on cicadas: How this year's insects are different than last summer's headliners

7/14/2025

That buzz you hear coming from the trees in your yard is coming from cicadas, but not the same kind of cicadas that were making headlines last year. These cicadas, called dog-day cicadas, emerge every summer, alerting us to their presence with their well-known buzzing sound.

The dog days of summer are here, but it doesn't mean what you think

7/8/2025

The dog days of summer are here, both literally and metaphorically. Be sure to stay safe outdoors during periods of high heat and humidity.