Headlines

Toads and frogs can give you warts? Think again. Warts are caused by a human virus, and you won't get them from handling an animal. 

Groundhogs get a lot of credit as weather prognosticators, but there's no science to back up their predictions. If you really want to know what the weather holds, look for these clues from the natural world.

The cold-weather seed distribution of around 350 different plant species is scheduled for 14 preserves throughout Will County.

Here's how you can identify some of the animal tracks you might find in your yard and beyond.

Are your attempts at feeding the birds inadvertently keeping the neighborhood squirrels well fed? We're here to help.

Do you know what kind of squirrel is taking up residence in your yard? Learn more about eastern gray squirrels and how to differentiate them from other squirrels that live in Illinois.

Can you tell the difference between a lichen and a moss? They often look very similar, but there are a few key differences. 

Seeing coyotes in your neighborhood is not cause for alarm because these animals are common throughout all of Illinois. You can keep yourself and your pets safe from them by following some simple, common-sense precautions.

Think the full moon makes people act a little batty? Think again. This belief has existed for many moons, but it simply isn't true. 

From what they eat to where they live, get to know North America's most common deer.

Three types of swans populate our waterways, but these white birds can be hard to tell apart from one another. Learn what features can help you distinguish between trumpeter swans, tundra swans and mute swans.

Many owls are masters of camouflage, far more often heard than seen.

Nearly two-thirds of the bird species in North America — 389 of the 604 species — are at risk of facing 'unlivable climate conditions across most of their current ranges by 2080 if global temperatures remain on track to rise by 3 degrees Celsius.'

The mysterious mink lives across Illinois, but are not often seen by humans. 

Despite what you learned in school many years ago, dinosaurs do still exist. The birds we see today are actually modern-day dinosaurs.

The latest installment of the Forest Preserve District's "Happy Place" series features a retired Will County Sheriff's Police sergeant who made riding a bike on the Wauponsee Glacial Trail a key part of his retirement plan.