Cosley Zoo

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Cosley Zoo Cosley Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and features native wildlife.
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Cosley Zoo gives visitors up-close interactions with nature right in the heart of the suburbs. Nestled on 5 acres, Cosley Zoo is home to farm animals and native Illinois wildlife. Visitors will discover exhibits that immerse them in natural habitats for white-tailed deer, red fox, Blanding’s turtles, a bobcat, a coyote, and more. Cosley Zoo is also a center for animal education and conservation, offering programs that teach young and old how to care for the world around them and give back to the communities in which they live, work, and play. You can reserve tickets in advance at https://cosleyzoo.org/plan-your-visit/ or purchase them at the admission booth.

Join us tomorrow!Friday, October 16 from 5:15-7:00P for Cosley Zoo's Spooktacular Halloween event! Dress up is encourage...
10/15/2026

Join us tomorrow!

Friday, October 16 from 5:15-7:00P for Cosley Zoo's Spooktacular Halloween event! Dress up is encouraged but not required. Get ready for a spooky stroll, creepy crawly crafts and perfect pumpkin picking! Registration is here: https://bit.ly/4ylJiis

Happy Hispanic heritage month!September 15-October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a month-long celebration of...
10/14/2026

Happy Hispanic heritage month!

September 15-October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a month-long celebration of the traditions and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans. To celebrate, we are highlighting some of Cosley Zoo’s resident animals that have habitats in these regions.

First meet Dig, the Mexican long nosed armadillo. This species used to be considered a nine-banded armadillo until further genetic research discovered that this is a distinct species. Science is cool! The name armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish, which is fitting as they have boney, plated armor to protect themselves from danger. In the summer she has her own program where you can come and meet Dig. Thank you to everyone who participated this year!

Next, meet Fern, the coyote! Coyotes are native to North America with a large range from southern Canada, the United States, and into Mexico and Central America. In folklore, coyotes are complicated animals, being seen as both tricksters and teachers. Coyotes are often associated with flexibility and resilience. One amazing adaptation a coyote has is the ability to hunt either alone or in packs depending on the set of conditions in an environment. This is called “fission-fusion,” and is something very few species do. Tune in next week for more about our coyotes River and Fern.

World Migratory Bird Day occurs in May and October to align with migration patterns. To honor this, we want to shine the...
10/11/2026

World Migratory Bird Day occurs in May and October to align with migration patterns. To honor this, we want to shine the spotlight on one of our Cosley Zoo songbirds.

Songbird spotlight! Pictured here is one of two American robins currently living at Cosley Zoo. Blizzard is an albino North American Robin that joined Cosley’s flock in 2025. When viewing Cosley’s songbird enclosure, you may spot Blizzard alongside our leucistic American Robin, Winter. You can differentiate between the two birds by the yellow leg band on Winter’s leg.

Albinism occurs due to a genetic lack of melanin everywhere in the body, including feathers, eyes, and skin. When only part of the body lacks melanin (for example, just the feathers but not the skin or eyes), the animal is considered leucistic rather than albino. For Blizzard and Winter, the differences show in Winter’s skin and eyes, which contain normal levels of melanin for an American Robin.

Wondering how this impacts the day-to-day life of Blizzard and Winter? Pigment in feathers is correlated to feather strength. Less pigmented feathers can result in weaker feathers, which can impact the ability of a bird to fly. This is part of the story of how Blizzard got her name. Her varied flight patterns reminded keepers of the varied patterns of snowflakes in a winter storm.

-Keeper Sarah

Join us next week!Friday, October 16 from 5:15-7:45P for Cosley Zoo's Spooktacular Halloween event! Dress up is encourag...
10/10/2026

Join us next week!
Friday, October 16 from 5:15-7:45P for Cosley Zoo's Spooktacular Halloween event! Dress up is encouraged but not required. Get ready for a spooky stroll, creepy crawly crafts and perfect pumpkin picking! Registration is here: https://bit.ly/4ylJiis

It’s animal welfare week!Recently our Lead Zookeeper & Animal Welfare Coordinator, Heather, attended and Animal Welfare ...
10/09/2026

It’s animal welfare week!

Recently our Lead Zookeeper & Animal Welfare Coordinator, Heather, attended and Animal Welfare class hosted through The Association of Zoos and Aquariums. One of the ways that we continue to provide our animals with the best possible wellbeing is supporting our staff in continued learning.

Just a few of the topics that were focused on were looking at our animal care programs from the animal's perspective, creating and supporting your animal wellbeing culture at your facility, leadership training to ensure team success that will in turn benefit the animals, and data collection of animal behavior to better guide decision making in our animal care program.

We're excited to see what ideas Heather shares with our team and how this new knowledge of animal welfare practices can help enhance our animal's wellbeing. Thank you to Brookfield Zoo Chicago for an amazing experience.

Last week, representatives from Cosley Zoo attended the AZA Annual Conference. During the conference, we learned that we...
10/07/2026

Last week, representatives from Cosley Zoo attended the AZA Annual Conference. During the conference, we learned that we once again received AZA Accreditation! Cosley Zoo has been accredited for over a quarter century, receiving our first accreditation in 2000.


The road to accreditation is long, with preparations taking place over a year in advance. It involves completing a rigorous application, undergoing a thorough site inspection completed by specially trained zoo professionals, and a final hearing in front of the AZA Accreditation Commission. All facets of the zoo are scrutinized: animal care, education, guest services, safety for animals and guests, governing entities, veterinary care, facility maintenance, financial stability, and much more. The zoo completes this process every 5 years.



It is an honor to be recognized as one of the best in our field. Only around 10% of the animal care facilities in the United States are among those to be accredited by the AZA. We thank our zoo staff, Wheaton Park District staff, board members, and zoo guests for their continued support.

Come visit us for story time at Cosley Zoo! Every Wednesday, toddlers and their caregivers are invited to listen to a st...
10/07/2026

Come visit us for story time at Cosley Zoo! Every Wednesday, toddlers and their caregivers are invited to listen to a story, make their own craft, and meet one of Cosley Zoos ambassador animals. Every class is different. Registration is required and can be completed through the Wheaton Park district’s Autumn program guide. Follow the link for more information https://bit.ly/4iWjfK5

When you call my name, it’s like a little praying mantis.Praying mantis which are known as simply “mantis” are long inse...
10/04/2026

When you call my name, it’s like a little praying mantis.

Praying mantis which are known as simply “mantis” are long insects closely related to cockroaches and termites. While there are over 2,400 species in this family, there is one that is native to Illinois, the Carolina Mantis.

The Carolina Mantis are roughly 2-2 ½ inches long, or about as long as a single Lego brick and can be a variety of colors from grey, brown or green and can be solid or mottled. These colors make the great garden guardians as they often eat a variety of different species including flies, moths and sap-sucking beetles.

A few weeks ago we highlighted different bugs spotted here at Cosley Zoo including a non-native species of mantis, the Chinese mantis. How do you tell the difference? Well, these mantises are a lot larger than the Carolina mantis. They can grow up to 5 inches long or the length of an iphone 12. The Chinese mantis also has a slimmer, longer body.

One way to help native mantises is to avoid releasing egg cases. While mantises can great for the garden, you can help native mantises by keeping some of the yard wild and leave the leaves to provide habitats for the Carolina mantis.

Leave the decorating to the spiders!As Spooky season begins it’s time to break out the skeleton from the closet, dust of...
10/03/2026

Leave the decorating to the spiders!
As Spooky season begins it’s time to break out the skeleton from the closet, dust off the witches’ brooms and set out the jack-o-lanterns. But let’s leave the spiderwebs to the spiders. While these webs may be fun to have around, even fake webs can act like real ones, and wildlife can often get stuck. If you do decide to use webs this year, consider moving them inside, or using alternative materials such as rope to create some spindly fun!

Join us tomorrow, October 3rd 8:45-10A to explore the fantastic world of our feathered friends. Inclusive birding is des...
10/02/2026

Join us tomorrow, October 3rd 8:45-10A to explore the fantastic world of our feathered friends. Inclusive birding is designed to enjoy birds at a comfortable pace without the hustle and bustle of the day. Whether it’s your first time birding or you’re a bird expert, all are welcome! Come for the birds and stay after to explore the zoo at your own pace.
Wheaton residents | $9
Non-resident registration | $12
Follow the link to register: https://bit.ly/4fyWuZb

Address

1356 N Gary Avenue
Wheaton, IL
60187

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+16306655534

Website

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