We’ve all heard of “climate change,” a term that feels so charged, but what does it really mean, and what is actually happening? Let’s break down the scientific definitions to help us really understand what researchers and climate professionals are talking about when they say “climate change.”...
I am always excited for a new adventure – the anticipation of looking around the bend to the next interesting feature on a trail; the view at the top of a mountain or, in Illinois, a bluff; or searching and finding a new bloom in a prairie! Everyday Environment is embarking on a new journey,...
What are PFAS chemicals?Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called PFAS (pronounced pea-fass) for short, are a group of more than 15,000 man-made chemicals that have recently made their way into the news for all the wrong reasons. PFAS is an incredibly useful group of chemicals sometimes added to...
What is a Master Naturalist?
We get that question a lot at University of Illinois Extension. Master Naturalists are many things: Advocates, volunteers, teachers, and environmental stewards.
Around the state and in your backyard,...
On April 8, 2024, parts of southern Illinois will darken as the moon passes in front of the sun causing a total eclipse. The eclipse has about a 115-mile-wide path cutting northeast across North America from...
The lakes, rivers, and streams of Illinois are places of beauty. They’re also essential to life.
Without clean water, there are no picnics on the beach, no fishing or taking the boat out, no geese paddling or ducks dabbling, and in worst-case scenarios, no water coming out of the faucet whenever...
The transition zone between winter and spring is a fascinating time to explore the wildlife of Illinois. Here are a few of the neat opportunities for watching wildlife in early spring.
Want to learn more? Check out the...
The relentless wind on February nights sends skiffs of snow sliding across the rural landscape of Illinois. Average temperatures this time of year dip into the low 20s prior to dawn. For extra balance, a young wild turkey rests its breastbone on the branch of a northern red oak tree where it is...
Every fall, nature lovers from around the state lace up their hiking boots and head out into the field for the annual Master Naturalist State Conference. The gathering is a chance for Illinois Extension staff and volunteers to share ideas and gain new skills, tools, and programs they can bring home...
From turkey hands made by schoolchildren to presidential pardons at the White House, November is turkey time. And while we may think we know a lot about these birds, here are a few things that might be new to you.Turkey FactsWild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are one of only two...
