There’s at least one mountain lion roaming Illinois right now, and the State Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to leave him alone. A cougar was struck and killed on I-88 earlier this month, but there’s a second one. It was fitted with a GPS collar last year by Nebraska officials and has made its way here says DNR Wildlife Chief Mike Wefer:
“We have had sightings in West Central Illinois. We have a confirmed sighting in McDonough County and confirmed sightings in in Cass. Hopefully, people will leave it alone enough that it can make it through and not only just for the animal’s sake, but it would be kind of interesting for the folks in Nebraska’s research project to see where this guy goes.”
Wefer reminds that mountain lions are protected so it’s illegal to hunt, kill or harass them unless they are an imminent threat to yourself or your property. You can report sightings online at: wildlife illinois dot org.
***Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services***
