While the population of red foxes has recently declined in rural parts of east central Illinois, the same foxes have thrived in urban areas, where predators are scarce and prey is more abundant

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.

The work of conservation can be inspiring and uplifting, but not so much when schemes to put profits ahead of the public good threaten local and global ecosystems