After being counted, measured and sexed, tiger salamanders in the St. Charles Park District monitoring program are released in their breeding pond. The presence of…
Salamander Monitoring
Odorous House Ants Pt. 2
Odorous house ants’ natural habitat is outdoors but, drawn by easy access to food and shelter, they often find their way into homes.
Odorous House Ants Pt. 1
Small bordering on teensy, Tapinoma sessile measures just under 1/8-in. in length. Pictured here next to a toothpick, it’s an ant that shows up regularly…
Ross’s Goose
Smaller than most geese, the Ross’s goose is an unusual sighting in Kane County. Photo courtesy of Gordon Garcia.
Aberrant Coloration
This hairy woodpecker, identified by the size of its bill rather than its plumage, this winter has been an infrequent visitor to a birdfeeder in…
Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy woodpeckers can be distinguished from downies by their larger size, larger bill in relation to the head and a lack of spots on the…
Robins in winter??
Robins in winter?? Plentiful food, water and shelter have led to year-round success for this popular, and populous, species.
Hitchhikers Pt 2
Despite attempts to eradicate it, the spongy (formerly gypsy) moth continues to impact trees throughout our area. This female, full of eggs, was found in…
Hitchhikers
With big claws and an attitude to match, the rusty crayfish was brought to Illinois intentionally for use as fishing bait. It then hitched around…
Esther Duncan Snail
Having hitched a ride to Illinois from California, and despite a fractured shell, this snail is now living comfortably in a terrarium in DeKalb County.