The Buzz

All Buzz Articles

  • A red fox standing in a forest with the ground covered by fallen leaves.

    Nature curiosity: Why don't humans have tails?

    11/3/2023

    Being tailless is a rare trait among mammals, but us humans aren't quite alone. 

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  • A bison in a prairie.

    Five fun facts about our national mammal, the American bison

    11/2/2023

    What you don’t know about these scraggly bearded giants might surprise you.

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  • A woman poses in a forest.

    Meet a Naturalist: Alexis Lyons, helping people connect to nature

    11/1/2023

    Meet Alexis Lyons, an interpretive naturalist at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. 

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  • A ladybug on a green leaf.

    Myth buster: Can you tell a ladybug's age by its spots? In a word, no

    10/27/2023

    What can a ladybug's spots tell us? Not much, although in some cases you may be able to determine the species from its spot pattern.

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  • A male wood duck standing on a tree branch.

    Five fast facts about ornate wood ducks

    10/24/2023

    It should come as no surprise that wood ducks love trees, but that's not all that is unique about them.

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  • An oak tree with the sun shining through its leaf-filled branches.

    Mighty oak trees have a long and storied history

    10/13/2023

    All trees provide us benefits, but oak trees are particularly vital and important because of how much life they support.

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  • A white-breasted nuthatch on a bird feeder.

    Follow these tips to winterize your yard for wildlife

    10/12/2023

    Want to see wildlife in your yard all winter long? The key is to make it a welcoming place for them to visit. 

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  • A coyote is seen on the left and a grey wolf on the right.

    What's the difference?: Coyote vs. wolf

    10/5/2023

    While coyotes are a common sight in Illinois, wolves are seen only very rarely, having been extirpated since the 1800s. In areas where both coyotes and wolves live, however, it can be tricky to tell them apart without knowing the key differences.

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  • A person standing on a wooden bridge over water.

    Meet a Naturalist: Jenna Krukowski, always curious about the past

    9/27/2023

    Meet Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache Museum.

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  • A green praying mantis on a sidewalk.

    Five fast facts about easy-to-miss praying mantises

    9/20/2023

    Praying mantises are among the largest insects we see, but that doesn't mean they are easy to find. Learn more about these insects that stand out at blending in.

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Current Headlines

Take It Outside challenge draws participants from as far away as Florida and Ireland

5/17/2024

While the bulk of Take It Outside challenge participants are from Will County, many are crossing county lines to take part in this popular program. 

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Rock Run Greenway Trail closed at Olympic Boulevard

5/14/2024

The Rock Run Greenway Trail section at Olympic Boulevard is closed for a City of Joliet project. The trail section is expected to reopen in the fall.

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