Wolves have long captured people’s attention, whether they are viewed as fierce predators, important parts of the ecosystem or symbols of the wild.
That mix of fascination and history is at the heart of “Wolves and Wild Lands,” a traveling exhibit now on display at the Orland Park Public Library through Oct. 31.
“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,” Library Director Mary Adamowski said.
Presented by the International Wolf Center, the exhibit features six preserved canids and explores their habitats, their role in the environment and the complicated relationship wolves have had with people.
Visitors will see an Arctic wolf, Mexican wolf, Rocky Mountain wolf, Great Plains wolf, red wolf and coyote. Displays accompanying each animal provide information about where it lives, how it fits into its environment and the conservation issues surrounding the species.
Wolves once roamed nearly every ecosystem in North America. As people expanded into their habitat, wolf populations declined and their range became much smaller. Conservation efforts today continue to focus on understanding wolves and finding ways for people and wildlife to coexist.
The exhibit is part of the library’s Orland Reads community reading initiative, which this year is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
The featured adult book is American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, which tells the story of O-Six, a well-known Yellowstone wolf, while examining the larger debate over wolf conservation in the United States.
Free copies of American Wolf are available at select programs and at the Adult Services Desk while supplies last.
Younger readers can take part in Orland Reads with A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry, a middle-grade novel, and Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette for younger children.
The library has also planned a series of programs to bring the subject beyond the exhibit.
Representatives from Big Run Wolf Ranch in Lockport kicked off the programming Oct. 1 with “World of Wolves,” sharing information about wolves, their importance to the environment and the wildlife refuge’s conservation efforts.
Children in kindergarten through second grade can explore the subject during “What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?” on Oct. 7. “Library Buddies: Wolf Explorers,” designed for teens and younger children, is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Adults can discuss American Wolf during a book club meeting at 10 a.m. Oct. 26. A second discussion is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10.
The Orland Reads Family Book Club will feature A Wolf Called Wander on Nov. 3.
The series continues Nov. 12 when author and wolf researcher Rick McIntyre visits the library at 6:30 p.m. McIntyre has spent decades studying wolves in Yellowstone and will share his experiences researching the animals, along with information about wolf behavior and conservation.
The “Wolves and Wild Lands” exhibit will remain on display on the library’s second floor through Oct. 31.
