Autumn officially begins on September 22nd, the fall equinox, when the days and nights are equal in length. Although we may not notice the change, Wisconsin's wildlife is already preparing for the cold winter days ahead. Fall webworms hurry to complete their tent-like nests at the tips of tree branches, while below woolly bear caterpillars can be seen crossing busy highways in search of safe cover to hibernate.

Under autumn's "harvest moon" cornfields are beginning to ripen and apple orchards are ready for picking. In the woodlands, black bears and woodchucks begin to gorge themselves with wild fruits, packing on extra layers of fat in preparation for their long sleep ahead. Gray squirrels are busy burying acorns for safe storage in the leaf litter of the oak forest floor.

As the days grow cooler, white-tail deer bucks feel the urge to rub off the fuzzy velvet covering the shiny white antlers beneath, and begin to spar with tree saplings in anticipation of the fall breeding season ahead. As fall progresses, frosts cause weaker flowers to wither, while more resilient plants like goldenrod and asters continue to flourish.