Illinois creepy-crawlies

Most people think tick season ends when summer does. In Northern Illinois, that assumption can get you into trouble.

Spring has sprung, and so have the ticks! Emergency rooms are seeing more visitors than ever—let's talk about what you need to know.

The rise in tick-borne illnesses has everyone on edge. Let’s talk about what’s lurking in our backyards this spring and summer.

Invasive pests are no joke, and one worm is turning heads for all the wrong reasons. This one could impact your backyard and beyond.

Imagine spotting a strikingly colorful spider spinning a web in your backyard. The Joro spider is on the move, and it might be closer than you think.

I know, you've been thinking about the billions and billions of cicadas that are going to come popping out of the ground in the next few weeks and you've completely forgotten (unless you're seriously bug-phobic) about the creepy-crawlies that make their presence known every spring here in Illinois. Don't worry, the bugs haven't forgotten.

Say what you will about winter in Illinois (and we all do), but if there's one thing freezing temperatures combined with snow and ice takes care of, it keeps our bugs quiet and out of our way...until now.

We've talked before about how Illinois has remarkably few things that can sting, bite, suck the blood out of, or otherwise hurt you. Sure, there are a few rattlesnakes in parts of the state, some bark scorpions hang out in our forested areas, and we've got deer ticks, but otherwise we're pretty creepy-crawly free in the Land of Lincoln.