Good Natured

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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)…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Woodcocks

In these uncertain times, a little reassurance can go a long way. And nothing’s more reassuring than knowing that (sorry for the forthcoming earworm) ob…

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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