Young male cougars often get photographed by trail cameras as they slip through an area, never to be seen again. Illinois state police transported the cougar to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a full necropsy and DNA analysis by a wildlife biologist. Get the camera! "I love it when a plan comes together:" Thomas Allen may have missed a day-starting coffee and chill time, but his planning before a recent turkey hunt in Minnesota had him ready when gobblers showed up earlier than expected, and just before an April winter storm blew in. On Aug. 17, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar on Hiawatha National Forest Land in Delta County. One that's smoked first. Cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. Thats if you dont count that one time my mother swore she saw one in Manistee County -- a completely unconfirmed sighting late at night but I choose to believe it happened. The most important rule of encountering a black bear is to never play dead. The nose and eyes of a puma are the sensitive parts, go for them if you have to. The DNR's count of cougar sightings hit double digits for the first time in 2019, with the agency recording more sightings in the last three years than it did during the previous decade. For most of us, the closest well get to a mountain lion in Illinois is by sitting down and reading about them. Historically, cougars covered much of the United States before European settlement, but were extirpated across the Midwest by the late 1800s. This is about 115 miles from where the March 31 video was captured in Dickinson County. Urbana, 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. But not to worry. Fish and Wildlife Service. News: Black panther sightings near me spark urban legends | Belleville 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. Large predators occasionally pass through Illinois but are not here to stay. That is the law and I am just here to inform you of it! URBANA, Ill. - Mountain lions have been on the move this fall with two confirmed sightings of animals in northern and central Illinois. 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. I spent some summers on a relatives farm near Golconda in the sixties. Recent upticks in cougar sightings east of Nebraska and the Dakotas dont portend a new era in Midwestern cougar populations. Humph. On October 31, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in central Houghton County. I call bull. When documenting tracks or other signs, be sure to photograph individual tracks as well as groups of tracks. On August 30, 2020, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in southcentral Luce County. If you are in a group, gather everyone together, if possible, and move as a group. Reviewable evidence is very helpful during efforts to identify the animal and the location. | The cougar is the largest wildcat in North America, north of Mexico. This is about 40 miles from where tracks were found in Schoolcraft County on February 20, 2020. Consider making a small monthly contribution to Hiking with Shawn by becoming an official Patreon supporter on Hiking with Shawn! Should we fear them? No matter what it is called, its appearance is distinctivea tan coat with a white or cream-colored chin; small, rounded ears, the backs of which are solid black or dark gray; and a thick, tawny tail half as long as its body and tipped with black. 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. 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. On July 7, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Gogebic County, northwest of Ironwood. Jane Wiedenhoeft, a Wisconsin DNR biologist who investigates cougar reports, says mature males drive juvenile males from their territories. According to the IDNR website, if you see a cougar, do not run. Should you see a mountain lion on your property, and you feel that you or your property is being threatened, contact the IDNR to learn about the options available to address potential threats. Filming the videos, taking the photos, editing everything and writing this article takes time and its all provided for free. Bass Crash Course: Technique tweaks to maximize distance and accuracy. This information will help wildlife officials with their inquiry into your report. Id love to see it happen while I am alive. There are occasional sightings, and there may possibly be the rare traveler that passes through. Large dog tracks are also often misidentified as mountain lion tracks, but there are some telltale differences. This means that at one time, most of what we know as the forest was once home sites and farming communities until the 1930s-1940s when it became a National Forest. Booford is the name of the Little Bigfoot and he spends most of his time sleeping in my truck because he is after allpart cougar, LOL, Ill hear something over that one! Thanks for taking the time to educate us. 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. The agency also verified a cougar-killed doe in late November farther south and a bit west, along the Barron and Washburn county line. It is extremely unlikely that we will see black bear in the forest any time soon but just in case we do, we need to be bear aware and prepared for such an encounter. This is about 4 miles from the Delta County photo taken on August 17th. As a result, cougars slowly expand their range, no matter how far juvenile males search for mates and new breeding territory. To learn more about Bigfoot and potentially see him, you should go to Garden of the Gods Outpost near, can you believe it? People always say they hear about me but never see me I mean Bigfoot gosh darn it! The big cats have regularly reappeared over the past few decades, with many sightings coming from the increased public use of trail cameras. Three months later, it remarkably surfaced inside Chicago city limits, where it was shot and killed in a back alley by Chicago police, who feared it was about to attack. If you feel that your person or property is being threatened by gray wolves, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). o the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If you encounter a cougar in the wild you should face the animal, stand tall, wave your arms and talk in a loud voice. In the late '90s, the Belleville News-Democrat reported a "pure black panther" wandering in the woods near Edwardsville . The IDNR will work with you to identify the threat and assist you with control measures. Are All Compostable Bags Acceptable in Curbside Bins? And we probably do have bigfoot Okay now we dont have to be so serious anymore, I hope that one day black bear, mountain lions and gray wolves come back to populate their species in the Shawnee National Forest. Its path was confirmed through DNA samples left along its route. Biologists dont expect to see re-established breeding populations of cougars from Missouri to the Great Lakes anytime soon. 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. It also increases the risk of negative encounters with the animal. Illinois verified three cougars from 2002 to 2008. Their study area was 44% forested and 37% agricultural land, with wetlands, shrublands and developed land accounting for the rest. Cougars for example might travel a few thousand miles looking for a mate. Average Weight: 60 to 130 pounds (adult male); 45 to 80 pounds (adult female) Average Length: 4 to 6 feet (including 15 to 20 inch tail) Wolves are the largest wild canine in Illinois. If you need help, let me know! 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. The most important thing to do is remain calm. State officials believe the cougar killed on I-88 over the weekend may have been the same one caught on a trail camera in Whiteside County. This is about 125 miles from where tracks were found on May 12 in Luce County. This is a turkey hunter's take on the classic Swiss dish. The form will ask for some of your personal information, the location you spotted the cougar, the habitat type, the day you saw the cougar, and any other details about the sighting. The chances of you encountering any will be extremely low especially since there isnt a population but it is better to be prepared than to not be prepared at all and that is the purpose of this article. A record 11 sightings came from the Upper Peninsula in 2019. Apex predators are crucial to maintaining the overall health of natural systems, Doty says. When documenting tracks or other signs, be sure to photograph individual tracks as well as groups of tracks. Secondly, mountain lions are really territorial and loners. If the wolf sees you, stand your ground; look as large as possible by standing up straight and putting your arms up in the air and slowly back away. You might not want to bring the pet rabbit on the trail-it might be an easy meal for these big critters. They have bushy tails, narrow chests, long legs, and large feet. Bears especially like sweets-I mean have you seen their bellies. The Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed a mountain lion in Shannon County in February 2020. This is about 3 miles from where a December 22 video was captured in Delta County. Young male mountain lions wander large distances as they look for a forested territory of their own. Of course, even if you never spot one of these elusive, large cats, there are a lot of other interesting species to see out thereso a walk in the woods is always is good idea. You are able to upload photos if you have any. Your email address will not be published. There arent going to be tons of pumas in the Shawnee because its not big enough for them to maintain various territories. Bear attacks are very rare, and I cant even find any information about the last bear attack in Illinois. This is about 50 miles from where a June 25 photo was captured in Houghton County. But in reality, I do hope they come back here. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. All 11 confirmed wolves were young (6 male, 5 female). On Sept. 18, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in northern Delta County. Locally, this level of knowledge is something wildlife experts would like to strive for. On Nov. 20, 2019, a trail camera photo was captured of a cougar in Ontonagon County. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. If completely safe to do so, take photos/video footage of the animal, its tracks and scat. 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. In DeKalb County on Sunday night, a vehicle collision was first reported involving a deer. No one in the vehicle was injured in the accident. This is about 5 miles from where another photo was captured on October 13 in Mackinac County. Cougar - Michigan Outdoor Illinois Journal - Wildlife Illinois You can also support us by purchasing official merch from the Hiking with Shawn online store. Original images of the animal or its tracks should be included. Master the subtle nuances of the sidearm cast for increased accuracy. Wolf tracks are approximately 4 to 5 inches in length and 3 to 3 inches wide. 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