Sweet home, Chicago

Nine million people call this region home, but it’s also home to thousands of species of native plants and animals.

A natural treasure
Scattered through the Chicago region are some of the most unusual communities on Earth. Some parts of this "Chicago Wilderness” are rarer than tropical rain forests. Chicagoland includes a wide variety of prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and savannahs, including some of the best remaining examples of tall grass prairie and open woodlands.

We need to take care of our home.
We need to actively manage wild places for native plants and animals.
• We need to remove "invasive species," plants from other continents that
• are threateningto choke out native plants.
• We need to keep natural areas healthy with controlled burns.
• We need to protect and restore wetlands and waterways.

Brookfield Zoo is part of Chicago Wilderness.
What is “Chicago Wilderness”?
• Chicago Wilderness is a nature reserve—over 250,000 acres of protected land.
• Chicago Wilderness is the name of a unique alliance. More than 190 organizations work to:
  "protect, restore, study and manage the natural ecosystems of the Chicago region."

You can help!
• Support the work of Brookfield Zoo and other Chicago Wilderness members.
• Roll up your sleeves and get involved in volunteer projects.

Little homes on the prairie

The garden you see here includes prairie plants that attract butterflies and birds.
Wild native animals feel at home among:[plants identified]

Brookfield Zoo has other homes for native animals.
[exhibits listed and described]

Grow a little prairie home of your own
You can help wild native animals by providing them with a small piece of nature in your yard—or even on a patio. A container of native plants on a balcony in downtown Chicago could attract monarchs, tiger swallowtails, and other high-flying butterflies.

Many native plant species attract birds or butterflies, thrive with little watering, and are very hardy.

To learn more about growing native plants, visit BrookfieldZoo.org.