The Buzz

Spring is spawning season for crappies, which offers an opportunity to get a good look at these fish. 

Have you ever seen a blue-spotted salamander? Most people haven't, but they do live in Will County. Finding one is a matter of knowing where to look. 

Is that snake you saw a dangerous eastern massasauga rattlesnake or a nonvenomous fox snake? If you saw it in Will County, it was a fox snake. The massasauga does not live in Will County. In fact, no venomous snakes do.

Invasion of the jumping worms isn't the next box-office thriller. These invasive worms are becoming widespread in Illinois, destroying the soil quality wherever they are. 

It was a long road in the 16-bird field, where there were some very close matchups and some blowouts along the way, but the No. 1-seeded ruby-throated hummingbird emerged as this year's champion in the 'Tournament of Birds.'

In recognition of International Beaver Day on April 7, here are five facts to help you appreciate these industrious animals.

Lichens are little known and not well understood, but they deserve our appreciation.

When it comes to salamanders, a big part of the thrill is the hunt.

Find out by answering these 10 questions.

Woodpeckers can peck up to 12,000 times a day! So how do they do it without hurting their brains?

Want to attract birds to your yard? You'll need to meet their basic needs: food, shelter and water.

Birds in Will County come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but it doesn't get any better than spotting a great blue heron gliding over a preserve or patiently stalking its prey on the ground.

Beat the boredom with some kid-friendly activities for indoors and outdoors. 

Soon, spring peepers will be calling out in the night, letting us know spring has arrived.

A world without mosquitoes might sound nice, but removing one species from its habitat can have far-ranging and devastating consequences.