The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A woodcock walking across grass.
Quiz: Are you wise about woodcocks?
3/5/2025Test your knowledge with these 10 questions.
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Two sandhill cranes flying overhead.
Migration watch: Eyes to the skies for sandhill cranes passing through
3/3/2025It's peak migration season for sandhill cranes, so don't be surprised if you hear their loud, bugling call overhead.
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A downy woodpecker perched on a tree trunk with a spot visible where they have cleared the bark.
Quiz: Are you a downy woodpecker whiz?
2/26/2025Can you ace this 10-question quiz?
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A badger peering out from a hole in the ground with dirt covering its face.
Five fast facts about fast-digging American badgers
2/20/2025Get to know the American badger, one of the animal kingdom's more renowned diggers.
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A woolly bear caterpillar on a wooden surface.
Nature curiosity: Why don't woolly bear caterpillars freeze to death?
2/19/2025Despite what you may have heard, woolly bear caterpillars can't predict how bad the winter weather will be. But they do have a pretty cool way to survive even the most frigid temperatures.
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An eastern screech owl perched atop a tree snag.
Quiz: Are you an expert on screech owls?
2/18/2025Take this 10-question quiz to find out.
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A deer in the snow.
Nature curiosity: How do deer stay warm in winter?
2/17/2025Deer can't escape the cold during a long, harsh winter, so how do they survive? They rely on a combination of adaptations and behavioral changes to make it through the cold winter months.
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A skunk walking in the grass.
Love is in the air? It's just skunk mating season
2/13/2025It's skunk mating season, and as male skunks are out and about searching for mates, we may have more close encounters with these animals, resulting in that telltale smell in the air.
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A partially frozen stream in a snowy landscape.
Why is the world so quiet when it snows? The science behind the silence
2/12/2025It's not just a myth that the world seems more quiet after a snowfall. There's science behind the silence.
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A side-by-side comparison of a gray fox and a red fox.
What's the difference?: Red fox vs. gray fox
2/10/2025Illinois is home to two fox species, the red fox and the gray fox, and telling the difference between them isn't always as easy as looking at the color of their fur.
Current Headlines
Forest preserves, park districts gear up for spring bike safety initiative
Seven northern Illinois agencies are launching a regional bike safety initiative in May to promote safe, responsible riding. The effort includes bike safety events, increased patrols and unified trail messaging.
Whimsy takes root with Becorns exhibit at Hidden Oaks
View tiny acorn people and their intimate interactions with nature during the 'Becorns: Little Acorn People Living Big Lives' exhibit from May 3 through June 29 at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook.