Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve

08/31/2026

Many animals shed their skin, including us humans. Snakes are unique, though, because they shed their skin all at once. They shed their skin for a few reasons. Sometimes it simply doesn't fit anymore, or it has become worn out.

Snakes are unique in that they shed their skin whole, a process called ecdysis. But why do they do this differently than other animals?

08/27/2026

Insects are everywhere at this time of year, and if you have a good eye you might see these two masters of camouflage on your outdoor adventures. Here's your chance to learn the difference between walking sticks and praying mantises.

Praying mantis or walking stick? Learn some of the key differences between these well-camouflaged insects.

08/24/2026

There's a lot going on right below our feet, and some of the animals that make their homes underground very rarely show up on this side of the soil. Eastern moles spend 99% of their lives underground!

Eastern moles live secret lives right below our feet, and just because we don't see them doesn't mean we don't know they are around.

08/20/2026

Recognize this beauty? Tell us who you think it is.

08/18/2026

Creature feature: The American bullfrog

Bullfrogs are the largest frog in North America, measuring between 3 ½ inches and 6 inches long and weighing up to 1 pound or more. They can live anywhere with a permanent water source, but they prefer warm, shallow waters.

A bullfrog’s diet changes over the course of its life. As tadpoles, they mostly eat aquatic plants. As adults, bullfrogs are carnivores, feasting on insects and other crustaceans; worms; snakes; tadpoles; baby ducks and bird eggs; and even other bullfrogs.

Fun fact: Bullfrogs are named for their loud call, which is said to sound like a mooing cow or bull. Their loud “jug-o-rum" call can be heard from more than a half-mile away.

08/13/2026

Ospreys live on every continent except Antarctica, and they eat a lot of fish. In fact, their diet is 99% fish. In those rare instances when they aren't eating fish, they will hunt snakes, salamanders, birds and small mammals.

Discover fascinating facts about ospreys, from their fish-catching adaptations and long migrations to how to tell them apart from bald eagles.

08/11/2026

Pretty pops of purple in the prairie at this time of year might just be prairie blazing star. These wildflowers can reach heights of up to 4 feet, with their spiky purple flowers providing a bright pop of color.

Blazing stars are related to asters, and they grow in prairies and fens. They bloom from July through September, and they attract a wide variety of insects, including butterflies, bees and moths. Have you spotted these blooms yet this summer? (Photos by Glenn P. Knoblock)

08/07/2026

As Mark Twain famously proclaimed, "Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get."

08/03/2026

The red milkweed beetle is among hundreds of thousands of beetle species roaming our planet. Like monarchs, milkweed is their host plant. When the beetles eat milkweed leaves, they become toxic. Their red color is a warning to predators that they are toxic.

07/29/2026

As the only marsupial in the United States, opossums are one of the most unique creatures around. Here's your chance to learn more about them.

Opossums are so ugly that they're cute, but beyond their appearances we should appreciate them for their amazing pest control abilities.