Cosley Zoo to scale back butterfly costs

A proposed butterfly exhibit at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton needs a little tweaking, particularly when it comes to finances.

Park board commissioners want to see a lower operating cost and more proof the exhibit will maintain interest in the long term.

Despite a $50,000 donation that will help offset the $145,000 construction cost, annual operating expenses were estimated last month at around $43,000. That includes $1,200 a week for new butterflies to stock the exhibit.

But those estimates were based on a building and program fully-staffed by paid employees, parks Director Mike Benard said.

When the proposal was drafted, officials were under the impression all staff must be employed to qualify for a difficult-to-achieve USDA license. Benard said they've since learned the USDA will accept volunteers as qualified to work in the exhibit as long as they're sufficiently trained.

Making that change to the plan should automatically help reduce costs and they'll present an amended budget to commissioners at an upcoming meeting.

There are three existing butterfly exhibits in the area: Brookfield Zoo, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Peck Farm in Geneva.

While that's not a lot, the exhibit still has to prove it'll be a draw.

"Everybody's first and foremost concern is whether it is sustainable," Benard said.

Cosley is a free zoo that no other exhibits requiring a fee for admission. The proposed butterfly exhibit would be the first revenue-generating enterprise.

If approved, the exhibit could be open by next year. The 3,100-square-foot building would be placed on the north side of the zoo's property at the site of an existing seasonal exhibit for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.