Environment

Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors, especially if you are near water where you might encounter members of the Odonata order. This group includes dragonflies and damselflies, which can often be seen resting on plants or rocks close to freshwater habitats.   Adult...

Happy Arbor Day! This celebration began in 1872 as a day to plant and appreciate trees in the natural world around us. With over 150 years celebrating Arbor Day, various states and countries have helped plant new trees and educate various populations about why trees are so important in our...

As the seasons change and warmer weather arrives, I always feel a little lighter and my smile becomes a bit brighter. With trees awakening and the sounds of more birds outside my window, I’m grateful for the extra moments of sunshine and I enjoy watching the furry friends in my neighborhood....

In the 16th century, St. Nick's counterpart, Krampus, was fictitiously known to gift naughty children coal in their stockings. By the early 1900s, coal grew in popularity as a gift, since many families used coal to heat their homes. While today most of us no longer receive coal in our stockings, it...

Which of the following statements are true?  There are hundreds of types of plastics.  Since the 1950s, global plastic production has grown by an average of 9% per year.  80% of grocery bags and more than 1/3 of entire plastic packaging production is for short term use by US...

Trees in neighborhoods enhance our environment by creating beautiful green landscapes, providing climbing fun for kids, and offering us shade on sunny days. More importantly, trees play vital roles in our ecosystems, including storing carbon, which is advantageous when discussing the management of...

Around the world we see countries tapping into renewable energy as sustainability and innovation are becoming higher priorities. Investing in research on how we can better care for our earth and utilize renewable energy can reshape our lives for a cleaner and brighter future. However, the rate...

July is the perfect summer month.  As a kid it was a month with no schoolwork, my favorite summer camp, and many days spent outside in the sun.  From playing in the backyard and visiting parks with friends, to days at the community pool, one of my favorite feelings was coming home and...

The stream water quality monitoring season may be ending, but it remains important to understand how we monitor our streams.   From May 1 to the end of June, River Watch volunteers from across the state wade into planned water sites to collect data on the stream’s appearance, turbidity,...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Eliminating honeysuckle from Hedge Apple Woods has been a persistent challenge. However, this invasive shrub is not the only species causing issues as wintercreeper has also invaded certain areas in Hedge Apple Woods. Jack Muirhead, Master Naturalist and project liaison for the...