map of cougar sightings in illinois 2019

On Sept. 18, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in northern Delta County. The cougar, Puma concolor, also known as mountain lion, panther, painter, puma and catamount, is the largest feline animal in North America. Have you ever watched a house cat sneak up on a mouse or bird or something like that and pounce them? Cats, including mountain lions, walk with their claws retracted, so claw marks will not appear in their tracks. Do not surprise the cougar. This is typical wolf behavior. This is about 25 miles from the western Schoolcraft County photo taken on November 8th. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. On Nov. 15, 2019, a trail camera captured a photo of a cougar in eastern Schoolcraft County. Kentucky has confirmed only one cougar recently. This story was originally published October 28, 2019, 11:28 AM. Let us know what's going on! Because they are protected, mountain lions may not legally be hunted, killed or harassed unless there is an imminent threat to person or property. If you ever actually encounter bigfoot, I have no advice for you. This is about 50 miles from where a June 25 photo was captured in Houghton County. Required fields are marked *. Fish and Wildlife Service. They have bushy tails, narrow chests, long legs, and large feet. Best of luck to you. Big Muddy Monster? Thanks for taking the time to educate us. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. The Susquehannock Wildlife Society wrote an article about a potential cougar photograph submitted to them and discussed their process of investigation, in the end they deemed it was not a mountain lion. People always say they hear about me but never see me I mean Bigfoot gosh darn it! The mountain lion/cougar (or puma, panther, and various other names) is the largest of the three wildcats historically documented in Iowa. Black bears, wolves, and cougars are rare but not unheard of in Illinois. Several large mammals that we are not used to seeing in the Chicago region have been turning up occasionally in recent years. Consider making a small monthly contribution to Hiking with Shawn by becoming an official Patreon supporter on Hiking with Shawn! Nebraska has breeding populations in three areas: Pine Ridge, Wildcat Hills and the Niobrara River Valley. If the bear seems agitated or defensive towards you, yell and scream at it. 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. 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 most important thing to do is remain calm. A black bear may attack you if you play dead and by playing dead, you are presenting yourself as a potentially easy meal for the bear. 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. Do not play dead. 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. If you have recently seen a cougar in Illinois, you should report the sighting to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Never run from a cougar. It also increases the risk of negative encounters with the animal. 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. Humph. If you believe you spotted a cougar in Michigan you can use this online form to report the sighting to the DNR. I heard the DNR released them to control the deer population, however, DNR denies this. Today, there are no known breeding populations of these large predators in Illinois, though occasionally individual animals will move through looking for new territory. Weight: 15-30 pounds Length: About 30-50 inches long Tail: About 4-5 inches long Mountain Lion Weight: 80-160 pounds Length: About 7-8 feet long Tail: 2-3 feet long (up to half of the total length) Identification The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. There has been a lot of alleged cougar sightings in Southern Illinois in the last couple of years. On July 7, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Gogebic County, northwest of Ironwood. . However, in the last several years there have been confirmed sightings of individual mountain lions in the state. Reviewable evidence is very helpful during efforts to identify the animal and the location. Defiantly use your brain and some common sense when hiking with your pets. Howdy Sharon! Subscribe to the official Hiking with Shawn Newsletter and get a free gift! If possible, go inside a building or get into a vehicle. One thing about the Shawnee though, we have plenty of raccoons who love to steal any food they get ahold of (besides spicy chips, LOL) so it is a good idea to hang food up because of them as youll likely encounter them quicker than a black bear. Also, five sets of cougar tracks were confirmed and 16 sightings were highly likely.. As Bill points out, the return of the large predators could help achieve the natural balance of all these other animals.. Really! In some journals dating back to very earlier pioneer settlement days, people often said there were so many big trees that the area looked like nighttime in the middle of the day and that it was scary. Here are some recent reports from around the Midwest. A male wolf was shot in Pike County in 2005. We are those little critters! URBANA, Ill. - Mountain lions have been on the move this fall with two confirmed sightings of animals in northern and central Illinois. Some famous ones include Bruno the Bear, the Waterloo Bear Sighting, and the Rend Lake Bear Sighting. An IDNR biologist will review the information provided and attempt to use it to confirm the species and location of the sighting. But in reality, I do hope they come back here. I might have already seen these animals here you will never know because a Bigfoot never tells. No black color phase (termed melanistic) of a cougar has ever been documented. If completely safe to do so, take photos/video footage of the animal, its tracks and scat. That is my opinion and I know some will disagree and that is fine. 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 where the Sep 6th photo was captured in Ontonagon County. Young mountain lion tranquilized after roaming from NE to IL | The Take your pack off and hold it over your head. This is a limited time offer. A cougar is not likely to attack a person unless it feels trapped, provoked or if you appear to be prey. Do be careful around clothing stores on the weekends though, especially younger males because that is where the majority of cougar encounters occur in southern Illinois. And besides, Bigfoot can use a friend after social distancing from everyone for so dang long, If I could get away with it, Id transplant them here. July 20, 2021: On July 20, 2021, a trail camera video was captured of a cougar in southeastern Baraga County. For a deeper dive, read the full Myth: Wild Predators Belong Anywhere But Here. However, unlike males, females rarely roam far when dispersing. Like with bears, remain calm even if pooping your pants and try to look big and mean. Clark County woman seriously injured in single-vehicle crash, Police: Quincy man arrested for having sexual contact with horse, Cardinals Hall of Famer, legendary broadcaster Mike Shannon dies at 83, Judge blocks Missouri rule that would limit transgender care, Mississippi River closes to barge traffic due to flooding, Local farmer turns to migrant workers to address job shortage. 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. In 2002, a mountain lion was killed by a train in Randolph County. Recent upticks in cougar sightings east of Nebraska and the Dakotas dont portend a new era in Midwestern cougar populations. If you see a wolf, do not run. While mountain lions were eliminated from Illinois in the 1860s after habitat loss and over harvesting, they have been a protected species in Illinois the past seven years. OF NATURAL Young male cougars often get photographed by trail cameras as they slip through an area, never to be seen again. On Oct. 22 a cougar was captured on a trail cam in Waupaca County and then one was . Mountain Lions - Wildlife Illinois DNA analysis indicates that thesefouranimals were genetically similar to mountain lions from South Dakota, which strongly suggests that they were all wild males dispersing from the western population. A 2007 study in western sections of the Dakotas found deer represented about half of the cougars diets, but those cats apparently killed deer less often than cougars farther west. In addition, video from trail cameras has led to a few other confirmed cougar sightings in the state. Error! In another famous case, the first male cougar documented in modern-day Wisconsin was a South Dakota juvenile that fled a farmers hayloft east of Madison in January 2008. | That number doesnt necessarily mean there are 76 cougars in Michigan. On September 16, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southern Dickinson County. This map was created by a user. Bigfoot has a name calling him Harry is a bit discriminatory in my opinion-some of you will not get that reference at all because I am old! On July 19, 2021, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in the Black River area of Republic, Marquette County. Go to Camping and lodging Find camping and overnight lodging options, reservation info, rules and regulations and more. Cougars are five to eight feet long and 27 to 31 inches at the shoulder with an average weight ranging from 75 to 160 pounds depending on gender. If attacked you should fight back, do not play dead. Winchester's new Big Bore ammo, available in 10 mm, .44 Mag., .357 Mag., and .45 Colt, is specifically designed for big bears in bear country. https://www.hikingwithshawn.com/shawnee-national-forest-snakes/, Hiking with Shawns Trail Guide Series: Old Stoneface Trail | Hiking With Shawn, Hiking with Shawns Trail Guide Series: Horse Creek Trail. In April 2008, a mountain lion was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in the Roscoe Village neighborhood in Chicago. I spent some summers on a relatives farm near Golconda in the sixties. Bass Crash Course: Topwater Pointers for Buzzbaits, Walking Baits, Go Big or Go Home to Hook Lunker Summer Bass, Best New Baitcasting Rods & Reels for 2022, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, Tackle Test 2022: Top Bass Rods & Reels Reviewed, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. Domestic dogs attack more humans per week than wolves do in a decade. The IDNR is interested in any information the public can provide about possible wolf sightings in Illinois. There have been many confirmed cougar sightings since 2008, including two illegal harvests in the Upper Peninsula. Have you seen my belly? But not to worry. and board vice president resigning, Ottawa police investigating body found in woods, Two Killed in two-vehicle crash in DeKalb County, Kendall County State's Attorney's Office acknowledges 'dating/romantic' relationship between first assistant state's attorney and defendant, Jason Demas wins draw in tied Yorkville 115 School Board race, More details released in arrest of Oswego man charged with sexual assault of a child, Waubonsee Community College President settling into job, Aurora man charged after wrong-way crash in Yorkville, Glendale Heights man facing charges after allegedly stabbing Joliet Police Officer, State Senator proposes bill meant to help end stigma about fentanyl deaths, Retired Sandwich Fire Protection District deputy chief passes away, One of two suspects in custody in Kane County burglary and police chase, Kendall County Forest Preserve District breaks ground on Ponderosa Playhouse, Writing songs, Ann Hamlin has an inspiring message. This is about 48 miles from the southern Marquette County photo taken on October 6. Outdoor Illinois Journal - Wildlife Illinois There are occasional sightings, and there may possibly be the rare traveler that passes through. To learn more facts (actual facts) about Black Bear species, habitat, and conservations, see this link. I did write this guide that you might find useful https://www.hikingwithshawn.com/shawnee-national-forest-snakes/. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. Try to aim for the face and nose of the bear as those areas are the most sensitive parts. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) confirmed that there have been at least six mountain lions in Illinois between 2002 and 2019.

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