map of cougar sightings in illinois 2019

In recent years, there have been multiple confirmed sightings of mountain lions, black bears, and wolves in Illinois. Take your pack off and hold it over your head. On Sept. 3, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Gogebic County. That might not be totally true But another word of advice is to not bring a pet that is currently in heat with you on hikes. Have you ever watched a house cat sneak up on a mouse or bird or something like that and pounce them? The increase sightings might be a sign that is could possible in years to come. Illinois verified three cougars from 2002 to 2008. The DNR said it's very rare for a mountain lion to pose a threat to people or property, but if you do encounter one that doesn't immediately flee, you should stand tall, wave your arms, throw stones or other objects and yell. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. Most bear attacks occur when people have food on them in their tent. Just a note on mountain lions. On October 13, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Mackinac County. The satellite view will help you to navigate your way through foreign places with more precise image of the location. If the dog is a toy-whatever, the bear might actually start laughing and then eat it. If a horsefly attacks you-scream and run for your life. In states like Colorado and parts of California, where people encounter large predators . Most of the Midwests wandering cougarsalso called pumas, panthers or mountain lionsare usually Western cats, typically young males dispersing from western portions of the Dakotas, such as the Black Hills. To explore these questions, Jerome and I talked with two wildlife management experts on the EcoMyths Worldview segment: Bill Ziegler, SVP of Animal Programs at the Chicago Zoological Society; and Mike Redmer, a biologist with the U.S. This is about 4 miles from the Delta County photo taken on August 17th. At the end of this process, state agencies, animal control, law enforcement, and even the public will have response mechanisms for how to keep both people safe and, as much as possible, the animals as well. That number doesnt necessarily mean there are 76 cougars in Michigan. The previous high was 20 verified sightings in 2017. Chances are that the cat will notice you, way before you notice it and hide. There have only been a total of 25 confirmed sightings of these apex predators since 2000: Black bears: 2-3; cougars: 13-14; wolves: 8. People always say they hear about me but never see me I mean Bigfoot gosh darn it! I get there when I can and especially in the fall. Size Adult weight: 116-160 pounds (male) and 75-110 pounds (female) Length: 80-95 inches (male) and 72-80 inches (female) Tail length: 28-38 inches and ropelike with a black tip It turns out that wolves, bears, and cougars have been returning to Illinois as their populations have grown in several neighboring states. The truth of the matter is that young male cougars do continually crisscross core Midwestern states in futile attempts to find a mate, but no wildlife agency east of Nebraska and the Dakotas sees evidence of a homegrown breeding population. In the late '90s, the Belleville News-Democrat reported a "pure black panther" wandering in the woods near Edwardsville . Confirmed Mountain Lion Sightings in Illinois. This is about 127 miles from where the April 24 photo was captured in Delta County. This is about 50 miles from where the May 13 photo was captured in Dickinson County. Because of its wide range, the mountain lion (Puma concolor) is a cat of many names, known commonly as puma, panther or cougar. Subscribe now (for a limited time only) and get my free 70+ page35 Hiking Trails of Southern Illinois Guide. Preparedness. That animal has a GPS collar that was originally attached a year ago in Nebraska as part of a research project. This is about 12 miles from the Schoolcraft County trail camera photo taken on November 15, 2019. A male wolf was shot in Pike County in 2005. Instead of playing dead, slowly but carefully attempt to leave the area after making the bear aware of your presence. The ears are rounded, and the back of the ears are solid black to dark gray. Doty recently led a program,available at go.illinois.edu/ILlargepredators, about the return of apex predators exploring behaviors, ranges, and identification. We didnt have cellphone cameras then but I talked to one of the forest service guys at the old Brownfield watch tower and he told me they had be seen by others in the area. There have been eight confirmed mountain lions in Illinois between 2002 and . Though as mountain lion populations in South Dakota, Nebraska and Rocky Mountain states increase, it is possible that more mountain lions will disperse through Illinois in search of new territory. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. A female wolf was trapped and released in Whiteside County in December 2012. To date, there have been 11 confirmed gray wolves in Illinois since 2002. But getting attacked is probably not going to happen in the utmost rare moment that you might encounter a mountain lion in the Shawnee National Forest. Ziegler and Redmer were among the expert hosts of a conference last week at the Brookfield Zoo to start planning how to coordinate the official response when one of these animals comes to town. Even with trail cams, though, most sightings get written off as mistaken identities involving bobcats, German shepherds and even large feral cats. This is about 165 miles from where the June 6 photo was captured in Chippewa County. As a result, cougars slowly expand their range, no matter how far juvenile males search for mates and new breeding territory. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that they would be removing gray wolves from the federal endangered species list for the lower 48 states. Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. | This is about 95 miles from where a November 12 photo was captured in Baraga County. You should do that and dont forget to mention the ice cream! Similarly, trail camera images taken from Sangamon and Effingham counties in November 2014 were confirmed to be of a mountain lion. The chance of even encountering a wolf in the Shawnee is probably extremely rarer than encountering a bear or cougar. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. But even though mountain lions are likely not here in a populous form doesnt mean they dont pass through the area from time to time looking for a mate. Throw rocks, use sticks. We defiantly have coyotes as well and an abundance of them. Cougars can be confused with bobcats and domestic dogs, however cougars are much larger than all these . Photo: Jeanne Drake, courtesy Cougar Network An adult mountain lion. A cougar is not likely to attack a person unless it feels trapped, provoked or if you appear to be prey. Help support concealed carry in Illinois, show your support. However, in the last several years there have been confirmed sightings of individual mountain lions in the state. The cougar has a GPS collar that was originally attached in November 2021 by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) as part of an ongoing research project on their mountain lion population, including movement patterns. Illinois does not have sufficient habitat to support stable populations of these large predators. You will probably be done after that. Some famous ones include Bruno the Bear, the Waterloo Bear Sighting, and the Rend Lake Bear Sighting. This is about 11 miles from where the Aug. 17 photo was captured in Delta County. On November 27, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar near Gulliver Lake, in Schoolcraft County. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. Filming the videos, taking the photos, editing everything and writing this article takes time and its all provided for free. The Minnesota DNR verified 31 cougars, mostly on trail cams or dead as roadkill, from 2004 through 2018. A lot of people think they are here and that we have a lot of them. December 23, 2021: On December 23, 2021, cougar tracks were found in southwestern Delta County. There is currently no evidence that resident breeding populations of mountain lions exist in Illinois at this time. The radio signal was not detected the following week. I recommend only discharging mace at a bear if it is charging towards you or will not leave you alone after you have tried to avoid it. These large predators were extirpated from Illinois in the late 1800s as natural habitats changed and white-tailed deer were hunted nearly to extinction in the Midwest. A female wolf was killed by a vehicle in Grundy County in February 2015. Required fields are marked *. Dont push your weak friend down and let them get ate while you flee, that isnt very cool. Secondly, mountain lions are really territorial and loners. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Vanilla is his game, too, remember that! Black bears and mountain lions are legally Threatened Species in the State of Illinois. The distances and chronology of the images suggest that they may have been of the same animal. The cougar is the largest wildcat in North America, north of Mexico. This information will help wildlife officials with their inquiry into your report. Thanks, Diana Massey. If a mountain lion makes contact with you, always try to fight it off. Do not surprise the mountain lion. The street map of Cougar is the most basic version which provides you with a comprehensive outline of the city's essentials. Original images of the animal or its tracks should be included. Best of luck to you. These animals periodically wander into our state which is exciting, but most of Illinois does not have the habitat to support populations so they will continue to move on, says Peggy Doty, University of Illinois Extension natural resources, environment, and energy educator. This is about 120 miles from where a November 27, 2020 photo was captured in Schoolcraft County. The IDNR is interested in any information the public can provide about possible wolf sightings in Illinois. The IDNR will work with you to identify the threat and assist you with control measures. Two were shot, and a train hit the third. Include a ruler, measuring tape, or an object of standard size (quarter, business card, etc.) On May 24, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in western Marquette County. On Sept. 18, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in northern Delta County. For a deeper dive, read the full Myth: Wild Predators Belong Anywhere But Here. The U.S. Gray wolves were eliminated from Illinois before 1860 due to hunting pressure. In the extremely rare event that you ever witness a mountain lion in the Shawnee National Forest, treat them exactly like you would treat an encounter with a Black Bear. You want to look like you are tougher than the bear. As always, be safe out there when exploring the Shawnee National Forest and leave with good memories, not bad injuries. It might watch you and fantasize about eating youbut youll likely be left alone and never even know that a larger version of Garfield was drooling at the mouth when you walked by it tripping over rocks and dancing from walking into spider webs. There have been many confirmed cougar sightings since 2008, including two illegal harvests in the Upper Peninsula. The IDNR is interested in any information the public can provide about possible wolf sightings in Illinois. Listen to the Worldview podcast of our conversation above for the whole story and to learn more about cougars, bears, and wolves. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. State biologists periodically confirm cougars wandering Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri; however, confirmed sightings remain rare to nonexistent in other Midwestern states from Ohio to Kansas. This is about 125 miles from where tracks were found on May 12 in Luce County. But the Outpost does sell a lot of Bigfoot stuff and buying it will support a local business that depends on your business! On February 20, 2020, DNR staff identified cougar tracks in southeastern Schoolcraft County while conducting wolf track surveys. But before the communities and farms were there, the area was rich with virgin growth forest. The Iowa DNR confirmed about 16 cougar sightings from 1995 to 2014. On June 25, 2021, trail camera photos were captured of a cougar in northern Houghton County. Occasionally, a states wildlife department will issue a press release about a credible sighting, or a report of a big cat showing up in a spot where it shouldnt be will make the local TV news. Please include specific location information and send photos or track castings if available. After running into a nearby woods, the young cat seemingly vanished without a trace. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. Dont run. Their minimum home range is about 70 square miles. In all seriousness, dont screw with the big cat, give it plenty of space to escape you and never turn your back on it. The diagram below shows the size difference between coyote, dog, and wolf tracks. First of all, everyone has an awesome camera in their pocket and none of us can ever do wrong and get away with it anymore without someone snapping a photo or video but yet they dont when they see a mountain lion??? Wolfdog hybrids have the same legal status as dogs and are not regulated by the IDNR. This is about 3 miles from where a December 22 video was captured in Delta County. To coexist with large cats and other predators is a matter of tolerating them during the periods when they visit our state. Bears, wolves, and wolverines are also rapidly increasing their populations in Europe after years of decline. Please support Shawns efforts by sharing this post and leaving a comment below. It has been illegal to own a cougar or large exotic cats such as African lions, leopards, and jaguars, in Michigan since 2000. However, one intrepid big cat headed east from western South Dakota in autumn 2009; traversed eastern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Michigans Upper Peninsula from December 2009 through May 2010; crossed into Ontario and then into northern New York; and eventually died as roadkill in June 2011 on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Connecticut (see map, page 32). But if the planets align and the encounter happens-just like with bears and lions, try to appear as big as you can. This isnt a sponsored post but be sure to tell them Hiking with Shawn sent you and he will happily oblige with free ice cream for life. Bears dont like to be scare pranked so dont do it or that bear is probably going to be taking a poop in the woods. This is about 120 miles from where the July 12 photo was captured in Delta County. Apex predators are crucial to maintaining the overall health of natural systems, Doty says. In April 2008, a mountain lion was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in the Roscoe Village neighborhood in Chicago. All rights reserved. There was an error processing your request. A human is looking for me. On July 7, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Gogebic County, northwest of Ironwood.

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