The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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What's the difference: Chipmunk vs. ground squirrel
10/25/2019Is that a chipmunk or a ground squirrel scurrying around your yard in preparation for winter? Learn how to tell the difference between these two similar-looking rodents.
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Creature feature: The crafty raccoon
10/21/2019Loved or reviled, the raccoon is one of the most common mammals in Illinois.
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Don't be a butthead; dispose of cigarettes properly
10/11/2019Trillions of cigarettes are littered each year, creating a lasting impact for the environment. And now, with the rising popularity of e-cigarettes, litter from smoking includes both hazardous and electronic waste.
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Nature curiosity: How do spiders make silk?
10/4/2019Spider silk is stronger than any other fiber on Earth, but how do these eight-legged creatures make it? They are specially equipped for making silk, with glands and structures designed for just that purpose.
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Numerous pelicans floating on the river
Creature feature: The beloved American white pelican
9/30/2019American white pelicans make their presence known in Will County twice a year, so get to know more about these biannual visitors in our creature feature.
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Honeybee on a a plant
Bizarre science: Male honeybees blind their queens with toxic semen
9/24/2019Males bees, the drones, have an unusual way of showing affection for the queen – they try to blind her. It may sound bizarre, but it makes perfectly good sense.
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Green dragon plant in the forest
Green dragon plant: An uncommon plant with a misleading name
9/24/2019The name of the green dragon plant conjures up some fantastical images, but in reality you have to have quite an imagination to see the plant's resemblance to a fictitious reptile.
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A sharp-shinned hawk and a Cooper's hawk
What's the difference?: Sharp-shinned hawk vs. cooper's hawk
9/23/2019Can't tell the difference between a Cooper's hawk and a sharp-shinned hawk? You're not alone. These two birds are strikingly similar in appearance, but there's a few things to look for to tell them apart.
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An eastern bluebird on a branch
Nature curiosity: Why do birds have feathers and not fur or scales?
9/18/2019Birds' feathers make them unique in the animal kingdom, and those feathers help birds in many ways.
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An eastern gray squirrel on a branch
Eavesdropping is a survival skill for squirrels, study shows
9/15/2019Squirrels eavesdrop on birds to help them determine if an area is safe from potential predators, according to a recent study.
Current Headlines
Watch eagles defy gravity during annual Eagle Watch at Four Rivers
See eagles in the wild and up close at live bird presentations during the Forest Preserve District's annual eagle watch on Jan. 11 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.
Rock Run Preserve – Black Road Access reopens after trail improvement project ends
Rock Run Preserve – Black Road Access in Joliet has reopened to the public after being closed for an asphalt improvement project on the Rock Run Greenway Trail since late October.