CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- If you're wondering how wild animals in the area are doing in this week's deep freeze, you might be surprised to learn they're doing okay.
Cosley Zoo in Wheaton specializes in animals that are native to Illinois, as well as domestic farm animals. Director Sue Wahlgren said the zoo cares for more than 200 animals, such as foxes, bobcats, hawks and coyotes.
In the wild, typically she said, "being native animals, they are actually uniquely suited to being pretty dog-gone resilient with this kind of weather."
Wahlgren said that, while they all have access to indoor habitats, she said many prefer to be outside, adapting by growing more insulation, more fur, or other ways.
"Some of them had different ways they behave such as a fox in the wild will, when it dens, goes into a protected area will wrap its tail around its nose and will filter some of that cold air before they breath it," she said.
Wahlgren said there's also a heated rock outside for bobcats.
The animals at Cosley Zoo are non-releasable for a variety of mental or physical reasons.
