Good Natured

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…

Woodlouse Spiders

In these days of physical distancing and social isolation, the sight of a familiar face can bring immeasurable joy. Even, it turns out, if that…

Hickory Knolls Natural Area

Okay folks, show of (thoroughly washed) hands… How many of you had your spring break plans dashed by the COVID-19 conflagration? Were your visions of…

Geneva’s Great Horned Owls

Geneva, some of you might recall, has a bit of a history when it comes to owls. And no, I’m not talking about The Little…

Mockingbirds

Maybe all this social distancing is starting to get to me. Or maybe I watched too much TV as a kid. But do you know…

Red-Bellied Woodpeckers

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that your life has changed quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. I…

Pelicans

I can remember the date like it was yesterday. It was April 1, 2000-something. I’m gonna guess maybe 2001. It was late in the day,…

Sapsuckers

Spring starts a week from today and with it comes the promise of warmer temperatures, as well as visits from a host of migrating birds–including…

Tracking Oddities

Over the past several weeks, we’ve taken a Good Natured look at the tracks and signs of many of our area’s most common mammals, from…

Tracking – Cats

Several years ago we received an email from a St. Charles resident who had found the remains of a feline beneath a pine tree on…

Tracking – Mink

Several years ago, my friend Jessi and I went exploring at McKee Marsh–a small but wonderfully diverse parcel at the north end of the Blackwell…

Tracking – Deer

Walking along Ferson Creek recently, I couldn’t help but notice how the tips of so many plants-young trees, shrubs and crispy brown wildflowers alike-looked really…

Tracking – Rabbits & Squirrels

This week we continue our series on wildlife tracking with a look at two of our most common wildlife neighbors, rabbits and squirrels. But first,…

Tracking – Raccoons, Opossums & Skunks

Well, it’s almost February, the month of love. The greeting card and candy companies know it. The jewelry stores know it. And so, too, do…

Tracking – Dogs & Coyotes

This week we continue our series on winter wildlife tracks with a look at man’s best friend, Canis familiaris; its cousin, Canis latrans, the coyote;…