Cougars In Southern Illinois

[jdwolf]

There has been a lot of alleged cougar sightings in Southern Illinois in the last couple of years.  I heard the DNR released them to control the deer population, however, DNR denies this.  Anyone know if this is true?

[Cement Man]

I am not given to believe things like that.
- conspiracy theorists, rumor mongers, and just plain BS'rs are common
- legally and logistically it would be very difficult to conceal
- there are better, more expedient ways to control deer (not that the DNR necessarily utilizes them)
- predator/varmint hunting is a quickly growing outdoor sport and I would think that these hunters would be seeing and reporting cougars quite often if it were true.
- lots of farm animals would be vulnerable to cougar predation and the livestock farmers would be vocal

I do believe that animals can get amazingly out of their usual range - like this "so far it does look wild" cougar that was shot in Chicago.  I have a hunting buddy who is a an expert woodsman and deer hunter, and has been a professional taxidermist all his life. He knows his ainimals.  He lives in the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin.  He tells me he has seen (rarely) cougars up there.  Him I believe.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if a wild cougar or two got into Southern Illinois.  I believe a dead wild cougar was found near Peoria a few years ago, on a railroad right of way.

I have another friend who tells me the car insurance companies are behind planting cougars in Illinois to control the deer population.  I tell him to have a (nother) beer.
JMHO

[Glanceblamm]

I do believe that animals can get amazingly out of their usual range.

Ditto!
I am long time friends with a Chemical engineer and his Son who is a teacher (read good character witnesses?)
Anyway, Just last fall they showed me a couple of very good trail cam pictures of a cougar that was taken just 40min south-east of the Effingham Illinois area. The Son was nervous about this cause they were within a month of our reg season hunt but I was telling him that these cats have around a 250 Sq mile range.
Seems like we get credible reports around here every couple years. I get out frequently to call in Fox/Coyote over a lot of years but have yet to see one.

[SDS-GEN]

A hunter found one that had been killed with a bow a few years back near New Boston, about 45mins. south of Moline.  I believe there are a few lions here in Illinois, a couple of years ago a horse got torn up near Annawan or Atkinson, I can't remember which.  I talked to the game warden who investigated it.  She said she sent all the evidence to the powers that be and the results they came up with were inconclusive.  But really what else could it have been to claw up a horses back, a bobcat?

[Cement Man]

SDS,
I would sure think that it was more likely a cougar than a bobcat.

This sure looks strange:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/895191,weiscougar041508.article

Maybe someday cougars will be more common in Illinois. They are sure flourishing in parts of California and out west.  Apparently gotten a taste for joggers too.  I remember when whitetails, bald eagles, pelicans, Canada geese, coyotes, and wild turkeys were rare if not uncommon in Northern Illinois.  Now I see these species a lot.  Things always change.

[S.B.]

I remember working on a bridge replacement job north of Fairbury Il. 30 years ago and the rumor of a black bear in the neighborhood? Local farmers were afraid to go out at night. Nothing ever came of this story either.

[GRIMJIM]

I've heard the rumor about them in Southern Illinois too. I sit with my back to a tree when I hunt down there. I've never seen one but I'm not taking any chances.

[SDS-GEN]

When I said it could be a bobcat I was being sarcastic, dang icons don't work for me anymore.  One more thing, I've heard of a bunch of "sightings", strange thing is all these people see lions, but never see tracks in the snow or mud, never find a hidden kill, and never smell a marking post.  These signs are far more abundant and easy to see than actually spotting a cat.

[S.B.]

SDS-GEN, are you saying strange thing is all these people see lions for Alaska or Illinois? You do live in Alaska, don't you?

[torpedoman]

in Ill the tracks in the snow would be written off as a dog. 90% of the people in that state wouldn't know lion sign of they fell face first in it.

[PHATINJUN]

Yes Lion's and tigers and bears oh my. Also wolves and elk for the wolves to eat and wild pigs to destroy the deer habitat. There used to be a writer down there. I think he wrote for the Harrisburg paper who had the whole gov conspiracy thing all figured out. I think his name was Lester or Les something may have been Winkler but I could be wrong on the name. As I have said for the 2nd time now I may be confusing his name .He used to post wanted adds on general store walls and gas stations looking for others who have seen the bears and wolves and the tiger's. Closest thing I have seen in many yrs down there is more and more Bobcats and I have seen some that were very large but bobcats none the less. The triger's I believe have way to good of a camo pattern to be seen.  Kurt

[SDS-GEN]

S.B., I live in Henry county Illinois, lived in Illinois most of my life.  I love Alaska, have been there a couple of times and would like to live there, but have never claimed residency there.

[S.B.]

Sorry, on another thread I thought you said you lived in Alaska?

[SDS-GEN]

I don't recall ever posting that I lived in Alaska, I thought pretty hard about moving there, even had the wife talked into going.  Maybe someday.  The hunting and fishing are sure better there than in the midwest.

[Dan Chamberlain]

I'm surprised the Illinois members here are not familiar with the cougar killed by a train near Marion several years ago.  It was studied by biologists who concluded it was a wild animal of the species commonly found in Northern Mexico and southern Texas.  That alone is definitive proof that not only is it possible they are in Illinois, but distinctly probable.

Dan

[S.B.]

Dan, if you can, list some links to articles, please?
thanks, Steve

[Dan Chamberlain]

It was several years ago, less than ten...but that kind of research will have to take second place to my medical reading today.

On second thought...it took me all of 2 minutes to find this by using search functions and key words.  The internet is kind of neat.  You can actually find answers to your own questions...and others don't have to do it for you.  Regards.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cougar_22feb22,0,6812449,full.story

Dan

[six_gunz]

Not to get off the Illinois subject but as I read this it reminded me of the 2006 season opener for deer here in Ma. I heard a lot of commotion not far from me and thought I was going to get lucky and it was just as day light hit I had a big bobcat come over a hill and walk within 25 yards straight in front of me. He looked like he could be one mean cat!! I didn't take him but it was a cool site to see.

[S.B.]

six_gunz, I can give some credibility to bob cats in Illinois(or at least the rumors of them), while camping as a boy scout along the Vermilion river up north of Ralph Meyers homestead (Sandy Ford bridge area), we heard what sounded like a woman's screams but, nest days local paper and gossip around town, didn't have any news of this event? Scout master thought maybe we witnessed a bob cat sounds?
Raised the pucker factor in all present! But then, it was different from today's rules and regulations, scout masters had firearm protection with him and we were all taught marksmanship skills.

[Glanceblamm]

The Bobcat numbers are high enough in IL right now that the DNR placed the (Did You See) question on the 07 deer permits.
That has not happened for me yet but I did see one back in 76.

[six_gunz]

We do have a Bobcat season here but it's in late December through March and it would've been out of season for me to take that one....which is why I didn't. I'd rather abide by the law and not take the risk.
I was told once that the Vermillion River is one of a few rivers on earth that runs the opposite direction of all other rivers....I don't know if that's true or not.

[S.B.]

Yep. one of three, that I've been told runs north, in north America? Also, rated as one of the best for canoe paddling.

[Dan Chamberlain]

http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/features/2004july/cougar.html

Another article.  Read down for the report on the examination of the carcass. 

Dan

[Chilachuck]

Looks like they are moving into Alaska, too. So far, the most reliable looking reports are in SE Alaska, near Petersburg, Juneau, and Meyer's Chuck.

[SDS-GEN]

Try this one.  http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=2651156 

[six_gunz]

I heard the DNR released them to control the deer population, however, DNR denies this.  Anyone know if this is true?

That just doesn't make any sense to me. Why not extend the season or make some special permit hunts? But then again that makes sense and just like where I work "The Powers that Be" constantly amaze me by doing things that make NO sense to anyone else.

[Chilachuck]

Could be political pressure from the condo-conservationist crowd.

There's some really big land owners who prohibit hunting on their lands, and "natural" population control is sometimes the only kind available. I don't think DNR planted the cougars, though. Too much chance of leaks.

[six_gunz]

Could be political pressure from the condo-conservationist crowd.

There's some really big land owners who prohibit hunting on their lands, and "natural" population control is sometimes the only kind available. I don't think DNR planted the cougars, though. Too much chance of leaks.

Out here some of the states give land owners a tax break for allowing hunting and fishing on their properties.....helps promote it IMO.

[12ptdroptine]

About 5 years back the henderson cty game warden was called to the scene of a cougar that was foung in the NweBoston Il area...laying there dead...with an arrow through it...This was a reported incedent ..pic's and all..the Dnr wouldnd admit it for 2 weeks.......It had been dead for a few days...It wasnt no farm kitty either...We also have confirmed Eastern red timberwolve's...In the yearly Huntiong Digest...The pamphlet we get with all the rule's and date's...Yhere was a 2 page article with a silhouette of a coyote and a wolf...With an  article stating..."Dont shoot a Wolf" They wanted you to know that maybe some had migrated down from the north...And since Illinois does'nthave a wolf season it would be illegal to shoot one... But they never "admitted" there were any here...HHMMMM?

[S.B.]

Sounds like Illinois DNR?