The library calls it a wolf exhibit, so why is a coyote standing in the case?
All of October, the second floor of the Orland Park Public Library at 14921 S. Ravinia Avenue holds "Wolves and Wild Lands," a free traveling exhibit from the International Wolf Center. It has six preserved canids. Five are wolves from places most people in Orland Park will never hike. The sixth is a coyote, the one wild canid that Cook County researchers have been collaring, tracking and studying here since 2000.
That research says the coyote is a good fit for an October exhibit. Locally, this is the time of year when young coyotes start traveling on their own.
Six Animals, One of Them Local
According to the library, the exhibit covers the long relationship between wolves and people. It traces how wolves once lived in nearly every North American ecosystem before habitat loss and human expansion shrank their range. Each animal comes with displays about its habitat, its role in the ecosystem and its conservation story. The lineup:
- Arctic Wolf
- Mexican Wolf
- Rocky Mountain Wolf
- Great Plains Wolf
- Red Wolf
- Coyote
The exhibit is part of Orland Reads, the library's community reading program, which this year is tied to America's 250th anniversary. The adult pick is Nate Blakeslee's American Wolf, the true story of O-Six, Yellowstone's famous wolf. Middle-grade readers get A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry, and younger kids get Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette.
Since 2000, the Cook County Coyote Project has written a long local footnote to that wolf story. The study is led by Stanley D. Gehrt, a professor and wildlife extension specialist at Ohio State University. The Forest Preserves of Cook County lists its partners as Ohio State, Cook County Animal and Rabies Control, and the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation.
The Coyote Lives in a Pack and Travels Alone
The wolf in American Wolf is a pack animal through and through, and the story follows her family. Coyotes are just as social, which is easy to miss. The Coyote Project reports that coyotes keep organized packs even in urban areas. A pack is usually an alpha pair plus a few relatives, and it defends a territory against other groups. In protected habitat, a group usually has five to six adults plus that year's pups.
The difference shows in how they move. Coyotes usually travel and hunt alone or in loose pairs, and the researchers say that habit makes people think coyotes don't form packs at all. A coyote crossing a field alone may still have a family nearby.
Not every lone coyote has a pack, though. Each year, one-third to one-half of the coyotes the project studies are solitary animals that have left a pack and are looking for a group to join or a territory to claim. The size of their ranges sets them apart. Resident pack territories average less than two square miles. Solitary coyotes average about 10 square miles, and some cover up to 60 square miles across many municipalities. The researchers also say a single sighting can't tell you which kind of coyote you saw.
Why October Is the Month for This Exhibit
The coyote year follows a fixed schedule. Coyotes mate in February, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says pups are born in April. Pups stay in the den for about six weeks. By the end of summer, they spend time away from their parents and try hunting on their own or with siblings.
Count forward from April and this spring's pups are about six months old in October. That's the youngest age in the project's description of solitary coyotes, which are usually six months to two years old. In a January 2025 Block Club Chicago story, Chicago Animal Care and Control said coyotes become more visible in August and September, when young animals leave to look for territory. It said they become more visible again from January through March, during mating season. In the same story, Forest Preserve District biologist Chris Anchor said winter coyotes can be easier to spot because they patrol territory edges and bare branches give less cover.
So the exhibit's run falls between the summer push of young coyotes and the leafless months when they're easiest to see.
Some other findings from the project:
| Finding | What the Cook County Coyote Project reports |
|---|---|
| Activity | Mostly nocturnal, which may help them avoid people |
| Habitat | Wooded patches and shrub cover; often avoid residential, commercial and industrial areas; use parks and golf courses |
| Diet, from 1,429 scats | Small rodents 42%, fruit 23%, deer 22%, rabbits 18%; one scat can contain several items |
| Leading cause of death | Vehicle collisions, 40% to 70% of deaths each year |
| Juvenile survival | About five times the 13% rate reported for rural Illinois juveniles |
The diet numbers may surprise people. The researchers say most local coyotes don't rely on pets or garbage. The survival gap has a local explanation too. Rural Illinois juveniles lose cover when crops are harvested and face year-round hunting. A metro area offers protection all year, with no harvest season and much less hunting. Roads remain the main threat. The project has tracked coyotes crossing roads that carry more than 100,000 vehicles a day.
The Forest Preserves of Cook County publishes coexistence guidance on a page dating to 2019. It advises removing outdoor attractants such as pet food, bird food and unsecured garbage. It also says to never feed or try to tame a coyote, and to supervise pets outdoors. If a coyote approaches, the guidance says not to run. Yell, raise your arms or throw something toward it, and call 911 if there's an immediate safety threat.
The Orland Reads Calendar Into November
The exhibit closes Oct. 31, but the reading program runs into mid-November. The library already held its Oct. 1 kickoff with Big Run Wolf Ranch. Still ahead:
| Date | Program | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Through Oct. 31 | "Wolves and Wild Lands" exhibit, second floor, during regular library hours | All ages, free |
| Oct. 7 | What's the Time, Mr. Wolf? | Grades K–2 |
| Oct. 22 | Library Buddies: Wolf Explorers | Teens and younger children |
| Oct. 26, 10 a.m. | American Wolf book discussion | Adults |
| Nov. 3 | Orland Reads Family Book Club, A Wolf Called Wander | Families |
| Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m. | American Wolf book discussion | Adults |
| Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. | An Evening with Wolf Expert Rick McIntyre | Adults |
McIntyre, an award-winning author and wolf researcher, is coming from Montana to talk about his decades studying Yellowstone wolves and the true stories behind American Wolf. Registration is required and opens Oct. 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. Free copies of American Wolf are available at the Adult Services Desk and at select events while supplies last.
"We're excited to bring this traveling exhibit to Orland Park and pair it with engaging programs that encourage our community to learn, read, and explore together," said Library Director Mary Adamowski. For the full schedule, visit orlandparklibrary.org or call (708) 428-5100.
Where to See Living Wolves Nearby
The library series opened with Big Run Wolf Ranch, and the ranch is close enough for a Saturday trip. It's at 14857 Farrell Road in Lockport and describes itself as a nonprofit, federally licensed educational facility focused on North American wildlife. Visitors can come only on scheduled event days or by appointment, and monthly Family Days run April through November.
The 2026 calendar has three dates left this season:
- Oct. 10, 4–9 p.m.: Howl-a-ween Party
- Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Family Day Open House with T-Rexplorer's Dinosaur Fossils, $9
- Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Family Day Open House, $9
Family Day admission is $9 a person and free for ages 3 and under. Tickets are sold at the door only, with no online reservations. Private one-hour guided tours for 1 to 12 people are offered for a donation of your choice; call 815-588-0044 to book. The ranch's pricing pages are a few years old, so call before you go. The Howl-a-ween listing doesn't give a price.
Seeing the wolves in Lockport and then the coyote case on Ravinia makes a good pairing, since the coyote is the canid that lives in Cook County.
At Aaron Gaines, we follow what's happening in Orland Park, from library calendars to the wildlife that shares our streets. If you're thinking about what your home is worth this fall, start with a quick, no-pressure conversation. Get Your Free Home Valuation.
