The monarch butterfly is a beautiful and colorful creature, but it takes a while to reach that part of its adult life.

The black swallowtail deserves to be chosen as state butterfly because it is “a full-time Michigan resident,” Meyer said— it’s the only species that can be found year-round and throughout ...

A black morph of a red fox kit in Lockport and butterfly close-ups in Villa Park are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.