What's New

Cosley Zoo is always working to provide new points of interest for our guests to visit. Check this page often, as we anticipate many exciting additions in the next few months.

April 16, 2013 : New to the Zoo - New bird species arrive just in time for Spring!

With spring right around the corner, Cosley Zoo is pleased to welcome several new bird species to the zoo! Like most of the zoo’s wildlife, these birds were obtained from rehabilitation facilities because they sustained previous injuries.

The zoo’s first new arrival is a Great Blue Heron that we received in January 2013. It is non-releasable due to a previous jaw fracture and a break to one of its wings. These tall, long-legged birds are the largest and the most common of North American heron species. The next new addition to the zoo is a Blue Jay who also arrived at the zoo in January 2013. It sustained previous damage to its wing, and as a result it has a hard time maintaining flight. These birds are beautifully colored, and have several very distinct, piercing calls.

Lastly, Cosley Zoo acquired a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It experienced a previous wing injury, and consequently has very limited flight capability. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are a dimorphic species, meaning that the male and female have distinctly different physical appearances. Males have a black head, throat, back, wings, and tail that contrast with a gleaming white underbelly and rump. They get their name from a conspicuous bright rosy pink patch on their breast. Females on the other hand are mainly brown with streaks, and are paler below with extensive dark streaking and yellow wing linings.

Be sure to check out these new birds in our aviary on your next visit to the zoo!

December 4, 2012 : Animal Artwork

Just in time for Christmas, Cosley Zoo offers the perfect stocking stuffer that’s ideal for any animal lover. The animals themselves have become the artists, and in our gift shop you can find these one-of-a-kind paintings done by various animals in our zoo collection. In order to create these paintings, zookeepers have incorporated the use of paint and a canvas as an enriching opportunity for both the animals and keepers alike. Using different color combinations of paint and different colored canvases as the background make each individual painting a true work of art! Whether the painting was completed by one of our raccoons or one of our snakes, each one offers a unique gift idea for someone special this holiday season.

September 20, 2012 : Bobcat Exhibit Opens

The new bobcat exhibit was completed in September of 2012 thanks to the efforts of the Cosley Foundation, the Wheaton Park District, and Cosley Zoo supporters like you!

A grassroots fundraising effort to support the development of new exhibits featuring animals native to Illinois began in 2002. Thanks to the generosity and support of many donors, most notably Jan Kiebler in memory of her late husband, Vern, the Foundation collected sufficient funds to allow for the submission of an application for a matching construction grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 2010. The grant awarded to the Cosley foundation covered $300,000 of the $580,000 price tag for the bobcat exhibit.

The two bobcats who now call Cosley Zoo home travelled to Wheaton from The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in California. The ten-year-old bobcats are brothers who had been raised by these rehabilitators for most of their lives after being found in the attic of a private residence. Because they have been living closely with humans for so long, they are not releasable into the wild.

Click here to view images of the Bobcat Exhibit under construction.

Click here to view the new Bobcat Exhibit Video as featured on Naperville Community Television Channel 17.

May 17, 2012 : Cosley Zoo Acquires New Animals:
a Cow, a Horse, and Two Donkeys, Oh My!

Cosley Zoo is very happy to announce the arrival of four new animals; a Guernsey Dairy Cow, a Norwegian Fjord Horse, and two Miniature Donkeys.

The new Guernsey Dairy Cow, Holly, is 7 years old. Holly comes from a local dairy farm where she has given birth to several calves in the past. Holly was a favorite at the dairy farm because of her friendly personality. Holly and the zoo's Angus cow, Ember have already become fast friends.

Gretchen Birka, is a 10-year old Norwegian Fjord mare (female). Gretchen comes from Northern Wisconsin where she was raised alongside many other Norwegian Fjord horses. One of the world's oldest breeds, the Norwegian Fjord is believed to have been domesticated more than 4,000 years ago. While smaller in stature, the Fjord maintains a drafty or stocky appearance which makes them very versatile and hardy. Fjords are usually a brown dun color and maintain primitive markings, which include a dorsal stripe and zebra striping on the legs.

The zoo welcomes two new miniature donkeys, Elmo and Jessie. These donkeys resided on a farm in nearby Kane County where they were raised with llamas and goats. Elmo and Jessie's exposure to other unique animals has made them feel right at home at Cosley Zoo. At 13 years of age, Elmo has experience with public settings. In the past, he spent three summers visiting Lord's Park in Elgin. While 11 year old Jessie was more of a home-body, she is already enjoying all the attention zoo visitors are lavishing on her.

March of 2012 : Arrival of New Cosley Zoo Mascot, "Bentley" the Bobcat

During the month of February 2012, Cosley Zoo held a contest to name the new Bobcat Mascot. Over eighty names were submitted and Bentley was chosen. Bentley was submitted by Wheaton resident Matt Benson. Congratulations Matt!

"Bentley" helped us celebrate the bobcats' arrival at Cosley Zoo in September of 2012.

Stay tuned for Bentley's upcoming appearances. Click here to view photos of Bentley.

Flat Bentley
Click to download the Flat Bentley Bobcat Coloring Page (PDF)

Take photos of Flat Bentley and post them to Cosley Zoo's Facebook page! Be creative with your photos! Take Flat Bentley with you on vacation, to grandma's house, downtown Chicago, even shopping or to downtown Wheaton. Thank you for helping us welcome Cosley Zoo's newest exhibit!

Bobcat Facts

Mammal, Carnivore with an average life span in the wild is 10 to 12 years
Size: Head and body, 26 to 41 in: tail, 4 to 7 in (roughly twice as big as the average housecat)
Weight: 11 to 30 lbs
The most abundant wildcat in the U.S.
Elusive and nocturnal, and are rarely spotted by humans
Have long legs, large paws and tufted ears
Relative of the Canada lynx
Brown or brownish red with a white underbelly and short, black-tipped tail
Named for its tail, which appears to be cut or "bobbed"
Fierce hunters, and often kill prey much bigger than themselves
For more information on bobcats, click here.

Bentley Partner:

Questions?
Please contact Margie Wilhelmi at 630-510-4984 or mwilhelmi@wheatonparks.org if you have any questions regarding Bentley, our new mascot.