The buzz

Is a snake a reptile or an amphibian? How about a frog? These two classes of animals have some similarities, but some key characteristics also set them apart.

If you rely on the myth that moss only grows on the north side of trees to guide you through a forest, you're likely to get lost. 

Icy is slippery; it's one of those things people just know to be true, like water being wet. But the science behind this fact has only recently become well understood. 

The American badger isn't as well-known as many of the other mammals that call Will County home, but these fascinating creatures are exceptional diggers that are known to work alongside coyotes to hunt. 

Don't feed the animals. We hear it all the time. Yet many of us make a habit of feeding wild birds. Why are birds any different than other wildlife?

For marsupials, only adult females have pouches, and they serve an important role in the reproductive process. 

A walk in the woods or a walk in the forest? Is there even a difference?

Downy woodpeckers are the smallest woodpecker in North America. Learn more about these birds in this creature feature.

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.