Bald-Faced Hornets
What comes to mind when you think of a good neighbor? State Farm? The folks next door? Bald-faced hornets? Okay, that last one may sound…
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Eruption or Irruption?
Generally speaking, eruptions attract a lot of attention. There’s no mistaking when a volcano blows, or a crowd expresses its views. Or when a facial…
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Snakes in Fall
Blotchy and big-adults average over 4 ft. in length-nonvenomous fox snakes are our area’s longest native constrictors. This time of year, they are heading for hibernacula, areas that might include garages, crawlspaces and basements. Good Natured: Snakes in Fall November 6, 2020 We all have our dreams…a fancy house, a fast car, maybe fame
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Become a Naturalist!
I can remember every detail of the day I told my high school guidance counselor that I wanted to be a naturalist. First, there was…
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Flying Squirrels
Working as the park safety supervisor for the St. Charles Park District, patrolling our public lands late into the night, Tim Timberlake has had plenty…
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Squirrels & Walnuts
We’ve all been there… That awkward moment when you realize there’s a poppy seed from your morning muffin wedged between your two front teeth. Or…
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Turkey Vultures
Turkey vultures are the sorts of birds that command attention. For one, they’re VULTURES-dark-feathered and hunchbacked, they look vaguely creepy even under the best of…
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Young Redtail Hawks
Certain signs of fall are unmistakable. The changing colors of the leaves, the masses of migratory geese. And the persistent, almost petulant, calls of young…
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Micrathena Spiders
When was the last time you got a face-ful of spider web? If you live in northern Illinois, and have walked outside recently, particularly in…
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White Snakeroot
Usually when people write about wildflowers they use words like beautiful to describe the blossoms. Or terms like vigorous or conservative to describe the growth…
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Argiope Spiders
“Let me show you something hideous!” My friend Mrs. Janet was pretty emphatic as she pulled her phone from her purse. Knowing that Janet works…
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Cicada Killers
Full disclosure: This column originally ran in August 2012. I’d intended to run it again last week, as it seemed like it was time to…
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Grass Spiders
Aah, the joys of summer. Here in the midst of another hot spell, the signs of the season are undeniable. Cicadas are buzzing, prairies are…
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Ahh-Choo! It’s Ragweed Season
Ahh-CHOO! *sniff* Yep, it’s that time of year again. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Your body’s immune…
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Cedar Waxwings
Whether we realize it or not, we all have hidden talents – a special skill or talent we trot out from time to time to…
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Great Black Wasps
Back in the day of Saturday morning cartoons, one of the more memorable commercials (and one of the more annoying, if you ask my mom)…
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Gray Tree Frogs
The things you learn when you write a nature column. Years ago I didn’t know, for instance, that the word fungus made some folks uncomfortable.…
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Imperial Moths
The other morning I got a text from my good friend Laura McKinsey. That in itself was a great way to start the day, as…
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Delnor Woods Park
Like so many people, I’d planned to get away this summer. That’s right, I-the girl who walks to work, and considers a drive to Wheaton…
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Long-tailed Weasels
Here at Good Natured World Headquarters, we get a fair amount of correspondence asking for assistance in “getting rid of ____________.” Over the years that…
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Herb the Hydrangea
Don’t you just love a good Aha! Moment? You know what I’m talking about…that instant where a lightbulb comes on, the brain fog clears and…
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Periodical Cicadas
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the air these days has a distinct buzz about it. Here we are, gradually emerging from our collective…
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Mystery Burrows – Part 2
Good Natured readers might recall how last week we talked of how jigsaw puzzles were all the rage during the Covid quarantine, and how satisfying…
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Mystery Burrows – Part 1
So today I’m wondering, how many of you passed at least part of our corona quarantine poring over jigsaw puzzles? I have several friends who…
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The Good Natured Hour
As we slowly crawl from our quarantine-kindled cocoons, many of us are looking at the days ahead as a sort of rebirth. We’re vowing to…
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Twelve-Spotted Lady Bugs
Wouldn’t you know it? Just as our world starts to get back to normal, or what we may see as our new normal, something comes…
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Snakes In Trees
I’d like to start this week’s column with a quick note of thanks. So many of you Good Natured readers have taken the time to…
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Morel Mushrooms
I hate to say this, but if you’re reading this column because you hope to find out about our area’s morel mushroom hotspots…you’re going to…
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COVID – CORVID?
Okay folks, show of hands. How many of you have spent the past several weeks thinking of crows and blue jays every time you hear…
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