The buzz

The royal-sounding queen snake is common in the Great Lakes region. This snake, often seen near water, is sometimes confused with the garter snake and the northern water snake. Learn what sets it apart. 

Birds flying in formation can be an awe-inspiring feat of nature, but how do the birds do it? And why?

If you listen closely at night, you'll hear a chorus of insects. Cicadas, crickets and katydids all combine to create a symphony of sound. 

Fishing line seems like an innocuous tool, but in reality it's a death trap for untold numbers of wildlife.

That hawk soaring overhead or perched atop a light pole is probably a red-tailed hawk. Learn more about these high-flying birds.

Is that creepy crawly covered in legs a centipede or a millipede? Here's how to tell. 

If you've ever spent a long day in the sun with no sunscreen, you've probably paid the price in the form of a bad sunburn. But are animals at risk for painful sunburns too? 

Learn more about the northern water snake, one of the most common water snakes in Illinois.

A plant that does what it's told? The name obedient plant may seem like a misnomer, but the flowers of this plant can be turned in any direction and will stay in place once moved, hence the name.

Most of us try to avoid bats, but creating a welcoming habitat for them may be beneficial.