Good Natured

Spotting the elusive bobcat

This bobcat is displaying both its ruff–the puffed-out fur around the cheeks–and ear tufts. Depending on the cat’s frame of mind, as well as individual variances, these characteristics may or may not be visible. (Photo credit: Sgarton at MorgueFile.com) Spotting the elusive bobcat May 26, 2017 Bobcats have been on my mind lately, and apparently

Sarcoptic Mange

Afflicted with sarcoptic mange, this coyote recently was spotted in broad daylight near Randall Road in St. Charles. Sarcoptic Mange May 19, 2017 Itchy and Scratchy. They’re more than just cartoon characters on television’s The Simpsons. They’re also the way a number of St. Charles coyotes are feeling these days. Unlike the TV version, what

Cedar-Apple Fungus

Those blaze orange, oozy and gelatinous growths on cedar trees are perhaps the most obvious phase in the fascinating life cycle of cedar-apple fungus. (Photo credit: pippalou at MorgueFile.com) Cedar-Apple Fungus May 12, 2017 Regardless of how long you live somewhere, or how well you think you know your surroundings, you’re one day bound to

Mourning Cloaks

Mourning cloak butterflies need to warm up to 50-plus degrees before they can fly. Their dark wings help absorb heat from the sun’s rays and make flight possible. (Photo credit: AcrylicArtist at MorgueFile.com) Mourning Cloaks May 5, 2017 Butterflies are easy. It’s a statement we naturalists make from time to time, and it refers to

Identifying Bobcats

Look for these elusive felines in woodlands, which are preferred for denning, and woodland edges and fields, which are used for hunting. (Photo credit: Dave Menke/USFWS) Identifying Bobcats April 28, 2017 Feral cats and even folks’ “outdoor” cats are an unfortunate part of our suburban landscape. According to data collected by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology

Keeping bats at bay

Bats can be divided into two groups, solitary and colonial. In our area, little brown and big brown bats are the colony-forming species that, from time to time, take up residents in attics, barns and other structures. (Photo credit: Tim Krynak/USFWS) Keeping bats at bay April 21, 2017 This time of year, nature folk are

A deeper look at animal, plant names

Our local species of mole, the eastern or common mole, is also known as Scalopus aquaticus, which would indicate an association with water. Alas, this species is the least aquatic of the North American moles, although it does a fairly good job of “swimming” through soil in search of invertebrates on which to feed. (Photo

Stop, Look and Listen

Those tiny specks flying in V formation actually are a flock of sandhill cranes migrating. This time of year, to find sandhill cranes, all you have to do is stop, look and listen. Stop, Look and Listen March 31, 2017 A while back, someone showed me a Facebook quiz titled Which Dr. Seuss Character Are

Amphibian Sheds

Like a lacy glove that’s been cast aside, the shed skin of a tiger salamander floats in a dish of water. Note the keratinized tips of the toes, which aid in digging and gripping. Amphibian Sheds March 17, 2017 If you’ve ever visited Hickory Knolls, you probably noticed that we have a lot of snakes.

Signs of Spring

Woodpecker species in our area have begun drumming, an annual sign that their breeding season has begun. The loud, staccato pounding is used to declare territory; it is distinctly different from the softer pecking sounds the birds create when excavating a nest cavity or foraging for food. Photo credit: Robert Burton, US Fish & Wildlife

Chinese Mantids

This time of year, Chinese mantid egg cases are pretty easy to find. Look for squarish forms, about the size, shape and color, of a toasted marshmallow, attached to plant stems in gardens and natural areas. Chinese Mantids March 3, 2017 I suppose we all have different ways of coping with winter doldrums. Even though

Pop! Goes The Email

This spider may look like a local species, but it’s actually native to southeast Asia. Thanks to the internet and through the magic of email, this image made its way to Pam Otto’s inbox courtesy of Mac Bakewell, who lives in Pah Leuat, Tha Pla, Uttaradit, Thailand. Pop! Goes The Email February 24, 2017 I

Goldenrod Galls

Goldenrod galls are particularly noticeable this time of year. Each gumball-sized growth initially houses a young goldenrod gall fly, but later can be used by a variety of other small creatures, including spiders, beetles, bees and wasps. Goldenrod Galls February 17, 2017 A few weeks ago I received an email from a nice woman named

Recycling Textiles

Whether you’re a long time reader or finding them for the first time, Pam Otto’s “Good Natured” articles educate and entertain. Published once a week since 2012, these gems cover everything from bladderworts to recycling polystyrene. Find the latest articles on our homepage, in the Kane County Chronicle, or on Kane County Connects. All new articles posted

Polystyrene

Now that the Christmas excess has started to subside and the Hanukkah latkes are gone, the Kwanzaa candles have burned low and the Festivus Feats of Strength are but a memory, it’s time to get down to the serious business of proclaiming our New Year’s Resolutions for 2017. I’m sure most of you take part

Your Might Be a Naturalist If

Years ago, a thoughtful naturalist, or perhaps a naturalist with too much time on his or her hands, compiled a list of traits that typify us nature nerds. In the style of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might be a redneck if …” the list read something like, “You might be a naturalist if … you have

Red-breasted Nuthatch

I don’t know if you noticed or not, but we’re in the middle of an irruption. Not an eruption as in,”Kaboom!” Nor an interruption as in, “Psst…” or “Ahem.” But an irruption, as in the ecology term meaning a sudden increase in a species’ population—in this case, red-breasted nuthatches, Sitta canadensis. I wish I could

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

“Stink.” It’s the kind of word that makes people cringe. Beyond its primary definition of “having a strong, unpleasant odor,” it also can be used to indicate a fuss or uproar—”raising a stink”—as well as opine that something is lousy, as in an idea or situation that stinks. “Bug.” Here’s another word that can make

Great Horned Owl

Editor’s note: The following is a column that originally ran in January 2009: The conversation lasted late into the evening. A tiny sliver of a moon rose up, the stars came out … and still the participants persisted. They sounded determined, though more than a little repetitious: “Who’s awake? Me too!” “Wh-who’s awake? Me too!”

Ambush Bug

“Whoops!” That one-word exclamation was all I could muster when I realized what I’d done. The mistake, though small by human measures, was of great magnitude for my young charges—a whole bunch of bouncing baby eastern lubber grasshoppers. Over the past few days I’d seen them through eclosion—the fancy word for hatching—and had watched protectively

Squirrels

Over the past year and a half or so, when not chasing after snakes or bugs or paperwork, I’ve busied myself with a series of do-it-yourself home-improvement projects. There was last year’s Painting of the Bedroom, which took about two weeks to complete. Then came The Laying of the Laminate, an endeavor that involved the

Blue Jays

When you think of nuts – the kind that grow on trees – it’s hard to not think of squirrels. They are, after all, the most highly touted nut-gatherers in these parts, collecting the trees’ bounty almost as quickly as it falls. In fact, squirrels will even chew off acorn-laden branches to make the harvest

Woodchuck

The third in a series chronicling lesser known fall season phenomenon. If today were February 2nd, the star of this week’s column would need little introduction. For well over a century—and even longer if you count the custom’s European roots–Groundhog Day events have given people a reason to celebrate the supposed prognosticating abilities of a

Stinkpot

This week’s column is the second in a series chronicling lesser known fall season phenomenon. Ah, babies. What’s cuter than a tiny robin nestling, its mouth gaping widely as it waits to be fed? Or a tiny fawn curled up in the woods, sun dappling its white-spotted coat? I may get a little push-back on

Ants On the Move

October 14, 2016 Ants on the Move Even though temperatures this fall have been mild, seasonal changes are occurring all around us. The increasingly shorter day lengths have leaves turning color, and asters and goldenrods going to seed. Anywhere you see trees you’ll likely also see branches aflutter with migrating birds while, on the ground,

Chicken of the Woods

Back in the 1960s, marketers of a certain brand of tuna came up with a catchy jingle: “Ask any mermaid you happen to see, ‘What’s the best tuna?’ Chicken of the Sea.” The white albacore tuna inside those little 5-oz. cans was so delicately flavored that it was deemed to “taste like chicken.” But as

Cicada Parasite

I bumped into an old friend the other day as I was walking along Second Street in Geneva. It had been awhile since we’d last met, which was all the more reason, I thought, to stop and get reacquainted with—and to introduce others to–this little, and little-known, neighbor. Meet Sandalus spp., a member of an

House Mice

This week’s column comes in the form of a public service announcement courtesy of my cat Jimmy. Being a cat of few words, except when it’s supper time, Jimmy wanted you to know just two things: 1) Mice are starting to make their annual migration indoors, and 2) Poison is not the way to get

Native Plants

September 16, 2016 Native Plants & the Impact on Landscape When was the last time you had an aha! moment? You know what I’m talking about. An abrupt realization that literally changes everything; a “Wait a minute!” dawning that causes you to see things in a different, often better, light. I know I’ve had plenty,

Jill’s Plot

When was the last time you had an aha! moment? You know what I’m talking about. An abrupt realization that literally changes everything; a “Wait a minute!” dawning that causes you to see things in a different, often better, light. I know I’ve had plenty, scattered over a wide variety of topics and an even

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