The Cosley Zoo, part of the Wheaton Park District, is one of those places I’ve always wanted to go to and never quite made it. My loss, as it turns out. I finally went last night for the Bobcat Bash, a fundraiser and celebration for the opening of the zoo’s bobcat exhibit.
Cosley Zoo is tiny, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Its focus is on animals that are in our backyards – creatures that aren’t so exotic as the giraffes and tapirs you see at Brookfield Zoo or Lincoln Park Zoo. As a result, Cosley is actually a pretty perfect day out for young kids. It’s a low-key zoo experience, complete with animals, sandboxes, running-around space, duck-feeding and programs around the year. If you have kids, you know very well that they’re just as fascinated by chipmunks running across the path as buffalo serenely grazing nearby, so this is a great place to go. Especially since kids up to age 17 are free, and grown-ups pay $3. In his introductory remarks, Board Director Art Pape said that Cosley Zoo is the smallest accredited zoo in the state of Illinois, and may be the smallest such in the country.
One of the bobcat brothers sits on his hot rock.
But it packs big fun, especially now that the bobcats are here. Salvatore and Valentino are brothers from a wildlife sanctuary in California. They’re about 10 years old, weighing in at about 40-45 lbs. And before you ask – yes, bobcats live in our region. In fact, bobcats have been seen in every state in the Union, even Hawaii and Alaska – but not Delaware. I have no idea why that is, and why Delaware doesn’t have them but the islands of Hawaii do. They’ve been seen in DuPage County as well, where the Cosley Zoo is located.
Here’s what I learned about bobcats from the keeper on hand at last night’s ribbon-cutting and preview, and from my own observation: Bobcats, a nocturnal animal named after the shape of their small tails, are good climbers and jumpers despite their tail size. Although their numbers have not been vastly affected by hunting, they aren’t immune to habitat loss – something that is affecting many animals all over the world. Bobcats, in particular, need the specialized diversity of old growth forests to survive. However, their numbers are numerous enough that it’s recommend zoos do not breed them. These guys are full of energy and determination – they have been known to jump onto a deer and hold on to its back until the deer falls from exhaustion, although their diet consists of ground birds, like quail, and ground squirrels.
As for Sal and Val, they’ve got a handsome new exhibit complete with indoor areas that keepers can give them access to and a hot rock for those cold Chicago winters. There’s a waterfall inside to create a sound barrier against the noise of visitors, and a newly open butterfly garden within sight. Val is the bigger cat; he’s orange and has adapted with very little trouble to his new surroundings. Sal is grayer and smaller, and not quite as adventurous as his brother. Val set to exploring his new digs almost immediately after introduction about a week ago, but both have been eating well and have shown signs of doing quite well in their new environment. Right now they’re on a diet of nutritionally-enhanced chow, bones once a week and venison, 40 lbs. of which was donated by a kind Cosley Zoo benefactor.
The actual cutting of the ribbon was done by sprightly 105-year-old zoo patron Merle Phillips.
And I got to be one of the very first to see these beautiful cats – they’ve been behind a partition till yesterday. Previously, they could see and hear people but no one was able to get too close. Last night’s event probably served as a tool to get the cats used to people before the public starts streaming in with their screaming toddlers and such (no kids were allowed for this event, which made my son very sad). Sal, given his pacing, must have been overstimulated by the attention, but I think both cats will do just fine.
And a note about the event: sample-size food was provided by local restaurants, including Genghis Grill, Eddie Merlot’s, Wok’n’Fire, Yogen Fruz, Entree Kitchen (ready-made meals), Noodles & Company, Arrowhead Golf Club, Corner Bakery, Cabot and California Pizza Kitchen. I actually won something in the raffle, something that NEVER happens! So if any of you want to come with me to Uncle Julio’s, let me know. :)|
Cosley Zoo is located in Wheaton, one of the western suburbs of Chicago. As I mentioned, the adult admission price is just $3. Animals I saw the other night included raptors such as the great horned owl and farm animals like llamas, horses and rabbits. Snakes, frogs and more are available as well; the keeper told me around 200 animals are kept on-site. For more information on the zoo and its programs, visit www.cosleyzoo.org.
Four Stars 