Cosley’s ‘guard cat’ reinforces zoo’s mission

The gift shop at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton has a guard cat. His name is Zack, and he takes his job very seriously.

“Zack likes to get in the window and watch,” said Kathy Worby, a gift shop staff member. “But he’s not allowed on the other side of the counter. Today, he’s lost his privileges.”

Zack suffered the indignity of lost privileges pretty well; he sat for photos in the chair behind the counter.

“Push him closer, please,” a pair of women visiting from Japan begged. The camera shutter clicked. “He looks like my old cat.”

A little girl wearing glittery tennis shoes rose up on her toes to see over the gate.

“Kitty!” she called, and wiggled her fingers across Zack’s fur.

Zack is a rescue, like many of the animals at Cosley Zoo. His presence creates an opportunity to talk with children and adults about the many animals that depend on humans for survival. Even in the gift shop, the zoo puts its mission up front — right in the window, if Zack has anything to say about it.

“Cosley Zoo is a place to teach kids to love nature,” zoo Director Sue Wahlgren said. “Simple contact has an impact. Touching a chicken. Petting a rabbit. We help maintain a connection to animals and nature for everyone in the community. The experience of a small zoo is different. It’s more intimate. A big zoo is a day trip. Cosley is a zoo you can visit for lunch.”

Wahlgren is justifiably proud of Cosley Zoo. Less than 10 percent of animal parks in the United States are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This honor requires strict animal care, educational outreach and conservation efforts.

Held to the same standard as larger and better endowed zoos such as Brookfield and Lincoln Park, Cosley has been consistently accredited since 2000. But it hasn’t been easy. Caring for the physical and mental welfare of the animals while providing an educational recreation space creates tough choices.

Over the last several years, the zoo has improved the parking, pig and poultry areas. It has added restrooms, a concession stand and a small medical clinic for the animals. The zoo did all of this while joining other zoos from around the Great Lakes region in a major conservation effort to save the Blanding’s Turtle.

“Any zoo person will tell you the reason they work here is to care for the animals and teach the people who visit,” Wahlgren said.

Last year, 120,000 people visited Cosley Zoo. About half of those visitors came from outside the county, with 45 of the 50 states represented, as well as many foreign countries.

The zoo recently began charging a $3 admission fee to adults living outside the Wheaton Park District, but attendance is holding steady. Visitors seem to recognize that there is a cost for quality animal care, Wahlgren said.

“We are always looking to raise the level of care at the zoo, but we also want to be sustainable,” Wahlgren said.

The Wheaton Park District provides some financial assistance by organizing regular fundraisers, including the Cosley Run for the Animals in June, the Cosley Zoo Uncorked wine tasting event in July and the annual Mike Williams Cosley Zoo Classic Golf Outing Monday, Aug. 1, at Arrowhead Golf Club.

“It’s a joy to work with Cosley Zoo,” said Jeff Sukowski, general manager for all three Malloy’s Wine and Spirits, which partnered with the zoo for the Cosley Zoo Uncorked event. “I know the zoo’s a real asset to our area.”

For a generation, the community of Wheaton has shown a commitment to the zoo’s mission.

“Years ago, everyone lived a little closer to the farm,” Wahlgren said. “Cosley Zoo is here to help raise our next generation as stewards of the environment. We’re guarding the future for our children.”

Zack steps carefully into the front window of the gift shop and watches the children enter the zoo. He seems to approve.

For information, call the zoo at (630) 665-5534 or visit cosleyzoo.org.