Environmental Almanac

Few brittle prickly pear cacti remain in Illinois. Will they persist in a changing climate?

Everybody loves monarch butterflies, don't they? And for good reason. But if monarchs are all you know, you're missing out. Late summer is a great time to expand your butterfly horizons.

Thanks to a friend who’s more observant than me, I recently discovered a new species of reptile in my own backyard, a plains garter snake. Maybe I should clarify by saying I mean the plains garter snake was “new” to me, not new to science or the wider world.

Where can you see some of the most beautiful birds in the world? In central Illinois! Right now!

Does the warm weather have you thinking about riding your bicycle to get from here to there? If so, let me offer some words of encouragement. 

There is an extended wildflower show that takes place each spring in the woodlands of Illinois, beginning in February and peaking in early May, when a dozen species can be seen flowering at once

How much risk do coyotes pose? Could it be good to have them around? Findings from the Cook County Coyote Project suggest they pose a very limited threat and even benefit urban ecosystems.