The Top 10 Superpowered Animals in the Midwest

These tiny bees create waterproof nests by making a bioplastic in their abdomens. 

Also known as cellophane bees (Colettes spp.), these tiny insects—about the size of a piece of macaroni—have heart-shaped faces and dull yellow-and-black bands. Important native pollinators in the Midwest, polyester bees are solitary ground-nesters—and nature’s original bioplastic engineers.

A female digs a tunnel with side chambers, each lined with saliva and a special polymer from her abdomen. This natural “cellophane” waterproofs the cell, protects the egg, and preserves the nectar-pollen mix she leaves behind. Once sealed, the egg hatches into a larva with everything it needs to grow. 

Scientists are studying this natural bioplastic to inspire sustainable alternatives to synthetic plastics. These bees may hold the key to a greener future—one built on the brilliance of nature’s own ingenuity.

Get to know some of our native wild bees in the Wild Bees Field Guide.

This beetle doesn’t just defend itself—it blasts predators with a built-in caustic chemical cannon. 

Don’t let their size fool you—bombardier beetles (Brachinus spp.) are among the Midwest’s most explosive insects. About an inch long, they live in forests and grasslands, hiding under leaves and logs. With reddish heads, bluish wing covers and nocturnal habits, they hunt insects and worms at night—and often hang out in groups when not hunting.

Their real superpower? A built-in chemical cannon. Inside their abdomen, two glands produce hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone. When threatened, the beetle mixes them in a third chamber, triggering a boiling, corrosive reaction. With a loud pop, it blasts the corrosive spray from its rear at predators. It can swivel its abdomen nearly 270 degrees for pinpoint aim, too. 

Guided by senses so sharp, this fish doesn’t even need to see its prey.

The Northern pike (Esox lucius) is one of the Midwest’s top freshwater predators. Long and torpedo-shaped, it’s built for ambush—launching from a standstill with a powerful tail and slick, slime-coated body. Large eyes give it a nearly 360° view, perfect for tracking prey at high speed.

But its real edge lies in its lateral line system: specialized pores and sensory organs detect the faintest water vibrations. Even blind, a pike can strike with deadly accuracy, guided by movement and pressure changes alone. This blend of speed, stealth and sensory precision makes the Northern pike a master hunter—and a crucial player in healthy aquatic ecosystems.

Discover how TNC is helping fish in the Great Lakes.

The cold never bothered these early spring frogs anyway.

One of the first signs of spring in the Midwest, wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) emerge from the forest floor and head straight for vernal pools—temporary ponds formed by melting snow and rain—as soon as temperatures begin to rise.  There, the males call out with loud, quacking songs to attract mates. 

But Midwest winters are harsh, and early springs often bring unpredictable weather, including sudden temperature drops. So, how does a cold-blooded frog survive when conditions plunge near or below freezing? That’s its superpower: the wood frog can freeze nearly solid and survive.

As temperatures drop, it floods its cells with glucose, a natural antifreeze. Ice forms between its cells, and its heart and lungs stop as the frog enters a sort of suspended animation. When warmth returns, it thaws and hops away—one of nature’s most astonishing adaptations for survival.

Explore more about Midwest wetlands and the creatures that depend on them.

Quiet wingbeats and pinpoint hearing make this owl a nightmare for its prey.

The American barn owl (Tyto furcata) is a ghostly figure in the night sky, gliding silently over grasslands, farmlands and even suburban neighborhoods. Strictly nocturnal, it roosts in quiet, hidden spots—barns, tree cavities or abandoned buildings—emerging at dusk to hunt. Its superpower? A blend of extraordinary hearing and nearly silent flight.

Barn owls can detect prey by sound alone, even in total darkness or beneath snow. Their heart-shaped facial disc funnels sound to asymmetrical ears—one higher than the other—allowing pinpoint accuracy in locating prey. In fact, their ability to locate prey by sound is one of the best of any animal ever tested.

Once locked on, the owl strikes in silence. Its broad wings are lined with soft, velvety feathers and comb-like edges that break up air turbulence, muffling wingbeats and allowing it to swoop down unheard.

Discover how TNC is protecting owls around the world. 

Every year, this tiny bird transforms its brain to survive winter.

A familiar year-round sight across the Midwest, black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are small, social songbirds known for their cheerful “chick-a-dee-dee” call. But behind their tiny size lies a truly superpowered brain.

Each fall, chickadees stash food—like seeds and nuts—in hundreds of hidden spots across their territory. They also join mixed flocks with other chickadees and bird species like nuthatches and woodpeckers. That’s when their brain begins to rewire.

Old neurons are pruned, new ones form, and the hippocampus—a part of the brain responsible for spatial memory—grows up to 30%. This helps them remember every food cache and adapt to shifting flock dynamics and predators. Come spring, their hippocampus shrinks again, freeing up brainpower for nesting and raising young. It’s one of nature’s most remarkable examples of seasonal neuroplasticity.

Get some birdwatching tips and tricks to spot chickadees and other birds in your area.

Imagine yelling at the sky to find your dinner every night.

The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is one of the Midwest’s most common bat species. These small, insect-eating mammals prefer forested areas near water, roosting in trees and caves—but they’ll also settle in buildings and homes.

While they’re the only mammals capable of true flight, their real superpower is echolocation: a biological sonar that lets them “see” with sound. At dusk, they take to the sky, emitting up to 20 high-frequency calls per second. These calls bounce off objects and return as echoes, which their brains translate into a detailed map of their surroundings.

Impressively, they do this while both they and their prey are in flight, detecting insects as small as a tenth of an inch and adjusting their flight mid-air to catch them. A single bat can consume half its body weight in insects each night, making them a powerful natural ally in pest control.

Discover how TNC is protecting bats around the world.

If minks had a motto, it would be “swim like an otter, climb like a squirrel."

Found across the Midwest and much of the U.S., the American mink (Neovison vison) is one of the region’s fiercest predators. These semi-aquatic mammals thrive in forested areas near water, where they find plenty of brush and rocky cover for shelter. Solitary and agile, minks hunt both on land and in water.

Their superpower? Unmatched athleticism. Minks are powerful swimmers, capable of diving 16 to 18 feet deep and swimming up to 100 feet underwater. In warmer months, they can swim for hours without rest, hunting fish, crayfish and muskrats.

On land, they’re just as formidable—sprinting, climbing trees and leaping between branches. They’ve even been seen chasing squirrels into the treetops, tossing them down, then climbing headfirst to retrieve their catch.

Everywhere a coyote goes, it finds a home.

Coyotes (Canis latrans) have coexisted with humans for over 15,000 years, making them one of North America’s most adaptable and resilient mammals. About the size of a border collie, they live alone or in social packs.

Coyotes are monogamous and mate for life. A typical pack includes a bonded pair, their pups and sometimes extended family. They communicate through scent, body language and a wide range of vocalizations—making them the continent’s most vocal mammal. Packs can vary their calls to sound larger, deterring rivals.

Once limited to the western U.S., coyotes now thrive nationwide, from wild prairies to urban centers. Their superpower? Unmatched adaptability, thanks to their omnivorous diet and high intelligence. Together, those traits allow coyotes to adapt and adjust their behavior to any environment they are in.