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

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, o

ffering 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.

02/21/2025

ATTENTION GOLFERS🏌️‍♂️

Registration is now open for the Mike Williams Cosley Zoo Classic Golf Outing! Join us for 18 holes of golf, lunch from the grill and an amazing dinner at Arrowhead Golf Club on Monday, August 4.

Register today! https://bit.ly/4b79AKL

02/19/2025

Happy Gotcha Day to Buttercup the goat who arrived at Cosley Zoo on February 19, 2017. Buttercup is referred to as the mother of our herd. Out of the three other goats that call Cosley home, two of them are her children. She has been a wonderful mother, a wonderful ambassador, and an all around wonderful goat! She enjoys resting most days, with her two kids close by, typically snuggled up with her. Be sure to stop and say hi to our goat herd and Buttercup next time you are visiting!

Photo caption: Buttercup up close in the goat stall in the barn

02/15/2025

We’re excited to introduce Hero, a year-and-a-half-old llama who recently arrived at Cosley Zoo from Namaste Llamas—the same farm that we welcomed Franklin from! Hero joined us following the passing of our beloved llama, Cora, and we’re happy to share that he and Franklin are already getting along well. Llamas are herd animals, therefore it was in the best interest for Franklin's wellbeing that we found him a stallmate.

Hero is a curious little guy, always eager to check out his surroundings and meet new friends—both human and animal. Like most toddlers, he’s still figuring out his tastes, and one thing’s for sure… veggies are not his favorite! Come visit Hero soon and give him a warm Cosley Zoo welcome!

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day from Rizado, Cosley Zoo’s curly hair tarantula! Curly hair tarantulas just like all spiders have eight legs. They have four appendages near their mouths, two of which that help them to hold and carry prey items and dig burrows. Curly hair tarantulas do not spin webs like most house spiders. They are nocturnal hunters and will wait in their burrows, using their sensitive hairs to detect movement from potential prey items, and then ambush them!
Did you know that female curly hair tarantulas can live up to 20 years, while males will typically live 5-10 years in professional care. Rizado is 9 years old!

Photo caption: Rizado the curly hair tarantula sits on a Valentine’s Day enrichment item.

02/12/2025

In a joint effort between the Cosley Zoo Conservation Team and the Wheaton Park District Green Team, we recycled a whopping 1,154 pounds of light strings this past season! $461.60 was donated to the Protect the Pride Lions campaign, which supports the protection of African Lions. 1,154 pounds is nearly as much as the combined weight of our Falabella mini horse, Dolly, and our Norwegian Fjord horse, Gretchen. Diverting waste from the landfill is just one way the Cosley Zoo and the Wheaton Park District demonstrate our commitment to the natural world and this community.

02/09/2025

Our resident sports analyst, Dig the Armadillo, has made her pick for the big game—she’s rolling with the Eagles! Why? Well, according to Dig, the Eagles have the speed, agility, and defense to take home the championship. Plus, as a burrowing expert, she knows a thing or two about digging deep when the game is on the line!
Will Dig’s prediction hold up? We’ll have to wait and see! Let us know in the comments—are you Team Dig or do you think another team will take the trophy? 🏆

02/08/2025

The Super Bowl isn’t just for humans—Bindi, Orange, Lottie, and Pink are suiting up for the ultimate game day experience! Bindi the Bearded Dragon is claiming the MVP spot, keeping a cool head while perched on the game ball. Orange the Blue-Tongued Skink is already dominating the field, crawling towards the end zone with that signature game face. Lottie & Pink the Tenrecs are zooming through their football boats, proving that speed and agility win championships! Stay tuned tomorrow to see who one very special animal ambassador thinks will win the big game!

02/06/2025

Do you have an interest in learning how you can contribute to bird conservation in nature? Come participate in a training session to prepare for the 28th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Our virtual training session will be hosted by a Cosley Zoo staff member this Saturday, February 8th from 3:00-4:00pm. We hope you can join us! For more information and to register please go to our website: https://cosleyzoo.org/programs/

02/05/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Cora the llama. Despite extensive treatments for arthritis, including medications, acupuncture, and laser therapy, we were no longer able to manage her discomfort, and we made the compassionate decision for humane euthanasia.
Cora will be remembered for her quiet, dignified demeanor, the joy she brought to visitors, and her special bond with the goats, who she often allowed to pick through her wool for hay. She was independent, confident, and unwavering in her decisions, never succumbing to peer pressure—even from her stallmate, Franklin.
While Franklin loves to be in everyone's business, Cora was more reserved, making her rare moments of affection—like nibbling a keeper’s chin—a true treat. She loved standing in the rain and often chose to lounge outside during storms, leaving Franklin dry inside.
Her personality was unmatched: easy-going, intelligent, and cooperative for husbandry tasks like injections and hoof trims. Cora kept her trainers on their toes with ever-changing produce preferences, though she always enjoyed root vegetables, apples, and oranges.
Her impact on everyone she touched will never be forgotten, especially among the guests and zoo staff who loved her. She leaves behind her stallmate Franklin, and the staff is watching Franklin closely so that the team can ensure that he moves forward into his next chapter at Cosley Zoo positively.

02/04/2025

Happy Tongue out Tuesday with Ginny the angus cattle!
Ginny weighs in at just under 1600 pounds! Did you know that angus cattle can get up to 2000 pounds?
Photo caption: Ginny the angus cattle investigates hanging enrichment in the cow yard.

02/03/2025

Our new Zoo Director, Greg Bockheim is settling in nicely. Greg comes to us with over 20 years in the zoo industry but most recently at the Virginia Zoological Park, where he served as Executive Director. He has been getting to know all the animals that call Cosley Zoo home. Please join us in welcoming Greg.

02/02/2025

Happy National Hedgehog Day! But Wait... Meet the Madagascar Lesser Tenrec!
While hedgehogs take the spotlight on February 2nd, let's shine a little light on their spiky lookalikes: Madagascar lesser tenrecs! Though they may resemble hedgehogs, these fascinating creatures are in a family all their own, offering a glimpse into Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity. Like hedgehogs, tenrecs are mostly active at night, using their keen senses of smell and hearing to navigate the darkness. Tenrecs also have sharp quills, which they raise when threatened. However, their quills are softer and less dense than those of hedgehogs. Hedgehogs belong to the Erinaceidae family, while tenrecs are part of the Tenrecidae family. Surprisingly, tenrecs are more closely related to elephants than hedgehogs! Hedgehogs are ground-dwelling animals, while tenrecs are semi-arboreal, which means that they spend some of their time in trees are sometimes found on the ground. They have curved claws to help them grip onto trees and rock.
Photo caption 1: Lottie, one of Cosley Zoo’s female Madagascar Lesser Tenrecs, explores a tree enrichment item.
Photo caption 2: Tiana and Lottie climb a piece of rock in their habitat.

02/01/2025

Congratulations and thank you Sue Wahlgren for dedicating 40 years to Cosley Zoo and the Wheaton Park District. You will be missed greatly!

01/29/2025

January 29th marks the Lunar New Year. This holiday is celebrated in various Asian cultures as a way to connect with family and look forward to the year ahead. 2025 is the year of the wood snake, symbolizing growth, stability, and creativity. Cosley Zoo is currently home to four snake species that serve as animal ambassadors: the Eastern rat snake, Western dusky hognose snake, corn snake, and common bullsnake.

Photo caption: Prairie the Western dusky hognose snake hangs from a piece of enrichment in her habitat.

01/28/2025

"In a testament to the excellent care Cosley Zoo’s animals receive, many of them live well beyond the average lifespan of their wild counterparts. Regular veterinary care, reliable shelter, daily enrichment, and incredible nutrition provide them with everything they need to thrive into old age. However, old age often presents geriatric-induced medical conditions such as arthritis, cataracts, or even cancer— just like in the healthiest of humans.

Unable to survive in the wild, our coyote, Wiley, has been in our care for the past 10 years. At 11 years of age, he is considered geriatric. The average lifespan of a wild coyote is approximately 4 years, with up to 60% of wild coyotes not surviving their first year of life. Due to his advanced age, Wiley experiences arthritis, a condition which is closely monitored and assisted by his care team through regular observations, data reviews, and medical treatment.

Wiley is trained to voluntarily present his hip along his fencing so that he may receive monthly injections to alleviate arthritis-based pain, a care plan commonly seen in domestic dogs— but a little more complicated to carry out with a wild animal! Due to his excellent positive reinforcement-based training, this is “no-big-deal” for Wiley, who gets lots of snacks for helping us care for him."

01/27/2025

The Cosley Zoo team will be celebrating its 2 years with Sherbet the bullsnake at the zoo on January 30, 2023. Sherbet came from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) as a hatchling of 4 months. Sherbet is a red albino bullsnake, hence his orange/ red coloration and red eyes. He was about 40grams when we first acquired Sherbet, and he currently weighs 415grams! Sherbet is one of our ambassador animals, and lives behind the scenes at the zoo. If you would like a special opportunity to meet him, visit the zoo this Thursday January 30th at 10am for your chance to meet Sherbet in the Wildside Giftshop and wish him a Happy Gotcha Day!
Photo caption: Sherbet sits on a piece of cork in his habitat.

01/25/2025

Did you know that peanut butter isn’t just a tasty treat for humans—it’s also a fun and enriching snack for some of our animals here at Cosley Zoo? Yesterday was National Peanut Butter Day, and we’re celebrating how this nutty favorite helps keep our animal residents happy and mentally stimulated! Here one of our animal care staff members provided enrichment to our resident pigs, Harley, Chopper, Tater and Tot “ants on a log” with celery, peanut butter, and beets!

Video caption: American guinea hogs are eating provided enrichment of celery, peanut butter, and beets in their habitat.

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

http://www.cosleyzoo.org/

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"In a testament to the excellent care Cosley Zoo’s animals receive, many of them live well beyond the average lifespan of their wild counterparts. Regular veterinary care, reliable shelter, daily enrichment, and incredible nutrition provide them with everything they need to thrive into old age. However, old age often presents geriatric-induced medical conditions such as arthritis, cataracts, or even cancer— just like in the healthiest of humans. Unable to survive in the wild, our coyote, Wiley, has been in our care for the past 10 years. At 11 years of age, he is considered geriatric. The average lifespan of a wild coyote is approximately 4 years, with up to 60% of wild coyotes not surviving their first year of life. Due to his advanced age, Wiley experiences arthritis, a condition which is closely monitored and assisted by his care team through regular observations, data reviews, and medical treatment. Wiley is trained to voluntarily present his hip along his fencing so that he may receive monthly injections to alleviate arthritis-based pain, a care plan commonly seen in domestic dogs— but a little more complicated to carry out with a wild animal! Due to his excellent positive reinforcement-based training, this is “no-big-deal” for Wiley, who gets lots of snacks for helping us care for him."

Peanut Butter Enrichment!

Did you know that peanut butter isn’t just a tasty treat for humans—it’s also a fun and enriching snack for some of our animals here at Cosley Zoo? Yesterday was National Peanut Butter Day, and we’re celebrating how this nutty favorite helps keep our animal residents happy and mentally stimulated! Here one of our animal care staff members provided enrichment to our resident pigs, Harley, Chopper, Tater and Tot “ants on a log” with celery, peanut butter, and beets! Video caption: American guinea hogs are eating provided enrichment of celery, peanut butter, and beets in their habitat.

Trees that are not sold during our Festival of Lights get recycled a few different ways. One of the cutest ways is for our two North American Porcupines to enjoy as a midday snack! Video caption: Sable, one of Cosley Zoo's North American Porcupines chews on a tree branch.

Cosley Zoo has come a long way in 50 incredible years—thanks to you! Since opening in 1974, we’ve transformed from a small park with a few animals into a nationally accredited zoo known for science-based education, impactful conservation efforts, and exceptional animal care. Watch the video below to learn more about Cosley Zoo's journey. Celebrate our anniversary with us one more time by making a tax-deductible donation to support Cosley Zoo’s mission for the next 50 years: https://bit.ly/3forDn0 Thank you for being a friend of Cosley Zoo! #cosleyzoo

#ThrowbackThursday A look at the entrance from the early 1990s to today! #cosleyzoo50

Uncork and unwind on Thursday, July 11 at Uncorked at Cosley Zoo, our annual wine-tasting event. This unique event gives attendees an evening filled with wine sampling, live entertainment, appetizers, mingling with the animals and more. Don’t miss out and collect this year’s commemorative wine glass- available to the first 450 guests! Tickets can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/4aNGgHI #cosleyzoo #uncorked #wineevent #wheatonevent

Happy New Year! We are excited to be celebrating 50 years. Follow along as we share history, stories, and more. Do you have a Cosley story? Share it with us at https://bit.ly/41KraQ2. #cosleyzoo #CosleyZoo50

Dig our nine-banded armadillo is running into the weekend on her new exercise wheel! #cosleyzoo #armadillo

Lynx Light Display

As you visit Canada Lynx sisters Sage and Poppy, you will get to see our new Lynx light display.

Enjoy wine with a little bit of wild! Cosley Zoo team members have a message to share about Cosley Zoo Uncorked. https://bit.ly/44pcMNF #cosleyuncorked #wheaton #wineevent

International Vaquita Day

Today is the 10th anniversary of National Save the Vaquita Day and despite worldwide conservation efforts, the vaquita is still the rarest and most-endangered species of marine mammal in the world. On this National Save the Vaquita Day, we encourage each of you to learn more about what you can do to help save the vaquita from extinction. Visit the zoo today, Saturday, August 12 from12-2P and learn more at the table near the zoo’s entrance or check out these resources to learn more: • https://vivavaquita.org/ • https://vaquita.day/ • https://vivavaquita.org/international-save-the-vaquita-day/#:~:text=Saturday%2C%2012%20August%202023 • https://earthleagueinternational.org/